PhD Student Found Guilty of Multiple Sexual Assaults Across London and China

Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old PhD student, has been convicted of raping ten women in both London and China, following a lengthy trial at Inner London Crown Court. The jury deliberated for more than 18 hours before delivering their verdict, revealing the extent of Zou’s predatory behavior, which authorities believe may be one of the most heinous cases witnessed in Britain.

Authorities suspect that Zou’s actions involve more than 50 victims, after police discovered footage documenting numerous unidentified women being attacked. Between 2019 and 2024, Zou employed a combination of charm and deceit to lure his victims, often drugging them before carrying out his attacks.

The nature of Zou’s crimes is made even more disturbing by the fact that he filmed many of the assaults. These recordings were instrumental in securing his conviction and will contribute to a lengthy prison sentence. The Guardian reported that the footage included graphic videos of women rendered unconscious by drugs Zou administered, with victims pleading for him to stop as he ignored their pleas. Zou also kept a trophy box filled with mementos of his victims, including video recordings, which he claimed were consensual acts.

Police discovered at least 1,300 sex videos in Zou’s possession, many of which were recorded without the victims’ consent. These videos, along with his chilling documentation of the assaults, have led to public outcry and demands for justice.

Zou first came to the attention of law enforcement in May 2023 when one of the victims reported being raped after being invited to Zou’s flat in Elephant and Castle, southeast London. Although the victim did not initially report the assault, investigators later found a social media post in February 2024 where the woman recounted her experience.

The woman told detectives that Zou had invited her for drinks at his friend’s flat before leading her back to his place. While drinking wine together, she grew uncomfortable with his behavior and attempted to leave, but Zou allegedly blocked her exit. The victim claimed that Zou restrained her, forced her to drink a large glass of vodka, and sexually assaulted her while she was incapacitated. Video footage and graphic photographs from Zou’s possession corroborated her account.

The case gained momentum as another victim came forward, prompted by the first woman’s social media post. The second woman disclosed that while she had consensual intercourse with Zou once in September 2021, her experience took a dark turn after a dinner with friends the following month. She found herself alone with Zou in Chinatown, where she began to feel ill. Her next memory was waking up to find herself being sexually assaulted at Zou’s flat, despite begging him to stop before losing consciousness.

Similar to the first case, Zou had recorded videos of the assault, which played a crucial role in his conviction.

As investigations continued, police discovered further recordings and evidence suggesting that Zou had assaulted multiple women in this manner, often filming the crimes while the victims were unconscious and unable to consent. Zou, who was pursuing a degree in engineering at University College London, will be sentenced on June 1, 2025.

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