LONDON — Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old former PhD student at University College London, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years after being found guilty of raping 10 women in both the UK and China. The Metropolitan Police have described him as one of the most persistent sex offenders they have ever encountered.
Zou was convicted at Inner London Crown Court of 11 counts of rape, along with charges including voyeurism, false imprisonment, and possession of extreme pornographic images. The offences occurred between September 2019 and May 2023.
According to police, Zou drugged his victims, filmed the assaults—nine of which were recorded—and kept a box of their personal belongings as trophies. Three victims were attacked in London; seven in China. Two counts involved the same woman.
Investigators found Zou used social apps like WeChat to lure young Chinese women to his London flat, where he installed hidden cameras and used the date-rape drug GHB. Police discovered 1,664 hours of footage, including 58 recordings of sexual assaults—32 filmed in the UK and 26 in China.
The case came to light in November 2023 when a woman reported an assault. Though initial charges weren’t filed, a search of Zou’s phone revealed extensive evidence. Authorities also found sedatives and drug paraphernalia in his £4,000-a-month apartment in Elephant and Castle.
Judge Rosina Cottage KC, sentencing on 19 June 2025, called Zou highly intelligent but emotionally disconnected from the concept of consent. “You pose a continuing danger to women,” she said.
Victim impact statements described deep psychological trauma. One woman said she woke up during an assault and “scrubbed herself clean for days.” Another said she has lost the ability to trust anyone.
Following Zou’s March 2025 conviction, 24 additional women have come forward. Police believe many more victims may exist—some of whom may not even be aware they were assaulted due to being unconscious during the incidents.
The investigation continues, with the Met working alongside Chinese authorities. UK law allows for prosecution of offences committed abroad if they are also considered crimes in both jurisdictions.
Zou first arrived in the UK in 2017 to study at Queen’s University Belfast before enrolling at UCL. He presented himself as wealthy and sociable, with his lifestyle funded by family in Guangdong, China. In reality, police said, his crimes were calculated and cruel. He admitted a fetish for extreme pornography featuring unconscious women and scenarios where victims appeared unresponsive.
Commander Kevin Southworth urged potential victims to come forward, assuring a “sensitive and compassionate” approach. Saira Pike of the Crown Prosecution Service praised the courage of survivors, stating the sentence reflects the severity of harm caused.
The case has drawn renewed attention to the prevalence of sexual violence in the UK. According to recent data, nearly 68,000 rapes were reported in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024, though conviction rates remain low. Drug-facilitated assaults, like those committed by Zou, are an increasing concern.
Zou will be eligible for parole in 2048, though the judge warned he may remain a danger for much longer. The case underscores the need for vigilance, survivor support, and international cooperation in confronting sexual violence.
