A Chinese PhD student described as “one of the most prolific sexual predators” in UK history has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 24 years, for a series of calculated sexual assaults spanning both the United Kingdom and China.

Zhenhao Zou, 28, used his academic credibility and charisma to lure women into his London apartment, where he drugged and raped them—filming many of the assaults. According to reports from The Guardian and BBC News, Zou was found guilty of 11 counts of rape, three counts of voyeurism, possession of extreme pornographic content, false imprisonment, and drug possession with intent to commit sexual offences.

The assaults, which occurred between 2019 and 2024, included three confirmed victims in the UK and seven in China. Zou reportedly posed as a friendly peer, inviting women over under the guise of studying or socializing, before drugging and assaulting them. He often recorded the rapes as the women lay unconscious.

'No understanding of consent'

During sentencing at a London court, Judge Rosina Cottage KC described Zou as “a highly manipulative and intelligent young man who gave no thought at all to the wishes and feelings of the women.” She said his actions revealed “an abiding sexual interest in asserting power and control over women,” noting that his victims were “pieces in an elaborate game for one: you.”

“You told the victims that resistance was futile,” she said. “Sometimes you would be begged to stop. You sought power over them — these women you treated callously and used as sex toys for your pleasure.”

The court was shown some of the videos Zou recorded, which Judge Cottage described as “extremely distressing.” She noted that some courtroom attendees wept as the evidence was presented.

Since Zou’s conviction, at least 24 women have come forward to the Metropolitan Police with similar accounts, suggesting that the true number of victims could exceed 50. Investigators fear there may still be many unidentified survivors and have urged potential victims to step forward.

Zou was arrested in 2023 at his flat in Elephant and Castle, south-east London. A search revealed a “trophy box” containing personal belongings of his victims, further suggesting a long-standing pattern of predatory behavior.

Victim impact statements presented in court painted a harrowing picture of trauma. One woman recounted meeting Zou with “romantic anticipation,” only to wake up later with him “thrusting violently against [her] body.”

“What happened that night is etched into my soul forever,” she said. “His face, his expression—they will never leave me.”

Sources:

• BBC News

• The Guardian