Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old Chinese PhD student at University College London, has been convicted by a London court of drugging and sexually assaulting ten women in England and China between 2019 and 2023. The jury, after extensive deliberation, found Zou guilty of 11 counts of rape—three committed in London and seven in China—with additional charges including voyeurism and possession of controlled substances. His actions have led police to estimate that there may be over 50 other victims, potentially placing him among the UK’s most notorious sexual offenders.
The court heard that Zou recorded nine of the assaults using hidden cameras, keeping the footage as “souvenirs” and maintaining a trophy box of his victims’ belongings. He had previously claimed the sexual activity was consensual. Following a month-long trial, Judge Rosina Cottage labelled him a “dangerous and predatory sexual offender” and suggested that his sentence would be significant.
Throughout the trial, jurors were exposed to troubling footage of the assaults, requiring regular breaks due to the disturbing content. Zou displayed no visible emotion during the verdict announcement. In addition to the rape charges, he was found guilty of multiple counts of voyeurism and extreme pornography possession, along with one count of false imprisonment.
Using the alias Pakho, Zou targeted fellow Chinese students via WeChat and dating platforms, luring them to his flats under the guise of social gatherings where he drugged his victims. Police Commander Kevin Southworth remarked on the severity of the crimes, indicating that Zou incapacitated his victims to the extent that they often could not recall the events.
Only two of Zou’s victims have been identified, and authorities have appealed to anyone who may have been targeted to come forward. Concerns were raised about the quality of interpretation services provided during police interactions with victims, leading to questions about the support offered to them.
Before his studies in London, Zou studied mechanical engineering at Queen’s University in Belfast from 2017 onward. Following the verdict, UCL President Dr. Michael Spence praised the courage of the survivors who stepped forward to testify, extending support to all those affected.
Zou’s conviction highlights significant issues within the university community and raises alarms about potential underreporting of such offences. Sentencing is scheduled for June 19, where a long-term imprisonment is expected.