Chinese PhD student convicted of drugging and r*ping women as police fear 50 more victims

A London-based Chinese PhD student has been found guilty of drugging and r*ping multiple women in England and China. Authorities fear that he could be one of the most prolific offenders in the UK. Evidence is suggesting that there may be at least 50 more unidentified victims, The Guardian reports.

The name of the accused is Zhenhao Zou. He is a 28-year-old mechanical engineering student at University College London (UCL), convicted at the Inner London Crown Court after a monthlong trial. Zhenhao moved to the UK in 2017 for higher studies.

He was found guilty of 11 counts of r*pe against 10 women, along with multiple other charges. These included voyeurism, false imprisonment, and possession of extreme pornographic material.

Police say Zou preyed on young women, particularly from the Chinese student community. He gained their trust through social media platforms like WeChat and dating apps, then invited them for drinks at his apartment, where he drugged and assaulted them. The crimes took place between 2019 and 2024, with three of the assaults occurring in London and seven in China, AP reports.

Authorities are now appealing for more victims to come forward. Zhenhao Zou’s actions were described in court as "predatory and cowardly." He now faces a lengthy prison sentence.

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More on PhD student Zhenhao Zou

Zou moved to Belfast in 2017 to study mechanical engineering at Queen’s University before relocating to London in 2019 for his master’s degree and PhD at UCL.

During his time in the UK, he reportedly presented himself as a well-off and ambitious student. He used to flaunt expensive designer clothes, a Rolex watch, and more to showcase a high-end lifestyle.

Court proceedings revealed that Zou had an interest in extreme pornography and disturbing content involving unconscious victims.

During his defense, Zou claimed that some of his encounters were consensual and that he engaged in role-play scenarios. However, video evidence and testimony from victims contradicted these claims.

In a statement shared with AP, Metropolitan Police Commander Kevin Southworth mentioned,

"He has done all that he can in these offenses to incapacitate his victims to the point where they could not resist his attack, and in many instances may not even remember what has occurred to them. It’s a matter of severe regret that the victims didn’t necessarily get that best translation at the time."

UCL's President Dr. Michael Spence added,

"Our thoughts are with the survivors and we wish to pay tribute to the bravery of the women who reported these crimes and gave evidence at the trial."

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Verdict and upcoming sentencing

After more than 19 hours of trial, the jury found Zou guilty of the following charges:

• 11 counts of r*pe
• 3 counts of voyeurism
• 10 counts of possessing extreme pornographic images
• 1 count of false imprisonment
• 3 counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a s*xual offense

Zhenhao Zou was cleared of some additional drug-related charges. He is set to be sentenced on June 19, 2025.