A PhD student convicted of drugging and raping ten women may prove to be one of the most prolific sexual predators in the country, according to the lead detective on the case. Chinese national Zhenhao Zou, 28, assaulted two identified victims, while eight others remain untraced, as revealed during his trial at Inner London Crown Court. He recorded nine of the assaults as “souvenirs” and maintained a trophy box filled with belongings from his victims, including jewelry and clothing. Judge Rosina Cottage characterized Zou as a "dangerous and predatory sexual offender" and cautioned that he could face a "very long" prison sentence when he is sentenced on June 19.
A 'depraved and cowardly' rapist could have potentially attacked 50 more women. Seven of these assaults occurred during the pandemic in China. The evidence presented to the jury included videos that Zou recorded, depicting him engaging in sexual acts with unconscious or semi-conscious women. Unfortunately, the police have not been able to identify any of these victims.
Four of the rapes took place in London. In two of these cases, the women were identified and provided testimony; the other two assaults involved the same woDuring the court proceedings, jurors were required to watch footage of nine rapes, which visibly affected them. They were given regular breaks as the material was shown. Some of the attacks were recorded at the perpetrator's flats in Bloomsbury and Elephant and Castle, while others took place at an unknown location in China. The prosecutions related to the attacks in China were possible because foreign nationals residing in the UK can be charged with offenses committed abroad, provided those offenses are also illegal in the country where they occurred. However, she has never been located.
In his defense, Zou told the jury that he had discussed sexual preferences with one of the women he filmed, and she mentioned that she liked "uniform role play."
"We specifically talked about the types of role play I enjoy, which included rape role play," he stated. He explained to the court that this was the basis for the videos being created.
Zou comes from a wealthy family and has the financial means to purchase a Rolex watch, maintain a wardrobe full of designer clothes, and undergo cosmetic procedures such as hair transplants and facial surgery.
He also paid £4,000 a month in rent.
Zou moved to Belfast in 2017 to study at Queen's University before relocating to London in 2019 to pursue a master's degree and a PhD at UCL.
Courageous Women
The Metropolitan Police have launched an appeal to find any additional victims of Zhenhao Zou. Commander Southworth stated, "If you are a woman who has had a one-on-one encounter with this man, we would like to hear from you."
The police are particularly interested in speaking with women from the Chinese student community who may have interacted with Zou while living in and around London between 2019 and 2024. They also encourage potential victims who may have met Zou during his time in China to come forward. Reports can be made online via the Major Incident Public Portal.
In a separate initiative, University College London (UCL) has created an online portal for students and staff to report if they believe they have been victims of Zou. UCL President Dr. Michael Spence expressed, "We have been appalled by these horrific offenses. Our thoughts are with the survivors, and we wish to pay tribute to the bravery of the women who reported these crimes and provided evidence at the trial."
Saira Pike from the Crown Prosecution Service extended her heartfelt gratitude to the courageous women who came forward to report Zou's despicable actions. She remarked, "They have shown incredible strength and bravery, and their evidence was crucial in securing today's verdict. Zou is a serial rapist and a danger to women."
**The Charges**
The jury found Zou guilty of the following offenses:
- 11 counts of rape, including two offenses relating to one victim
- 3 counts of voyeurism
- 10 counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image
- 1 count of false imprisonment
- 3 counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offense
Zou was acquitted of two additional counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image and five counts of possession of controlled drugs for sexual offenses.
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