PhD student sentenced to at least 24 years in jail for drugging and raping 10 women

A serial rapist feared to be one of the worst sexual offenders in British history has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years for drugging and raping 10 women in the UK and China.

- Alexandra Topping

Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old PhD student, drugged and filmed himself raping at least 60 victims between 2019 and 2024 after luring them to his flat with invitations to study or have drinks. Since his conviction, more than 20 women have come forward to police, and still more remain unidentified, with police fearing there may be dozens more victims.

Zou remained impassive as Judge Cottage said he was "a highly manipulative and intelligent young man who gave no thought at all of the wishes and feelings of the women" he penetrated and filmed. They were, she said, "simply pieces in an elaborate game for one: you".

Telling the Chinese national that he would spend at least 24 years in a British prison before being considered for parole, she said he posed a "significant risk" and had an "abiding sexual interest in asserting... power and control over women".

After the sentencing at Inner London crown court yesterday, detectives urged women in the UK and China to come forward if they suspected they were one of Zou's victims. Since an international appeal was made after the trial in March, 24 women have come forward.

"The sheer scale of his offending, which spanned two countries, makes him one of the most prolific predators we have ever seen," said DCI Richard Mackenzie.