PhD student who filmed himself raping women given life sentence
- Journal of Law and Genetics
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 20
A Chinese PhD student at University College London coined as “one of the most prolific predators” in the UK has been sentences to life with a minimum term of 24 years.
Zhenhao Zou drugged and raped three women while living in London and another 7 in China between September 2019 and May 2023.
Zou filmed many of the attacks as the women lost consciousness and kept a ‘trophy box’ of women’s belongings.
Prosecutors say that only 3 out of the 10 women have been identified. UK police fear that the number of victims targeted by Zou could be higher. Appeals have been made for potential victims to contact the UK Police.
Since the trial began, 24 women have come forward to police with similar experiences.
Judge Rosina Cottage KC is residing over the case. Cottage described Zou as a “very bright” and “well-to-do man” who used a manipulative “charming mask” to hide that he was a “sexual predator”.
She went on to describe how Zou had “planned an executed a campaign of rape” leading to “devastating and long term effects”.
It came out during the trail that Zou had a sexual interest in “asserting power and control over women”, and that the victims had been “pieces in an elaborate game” for the defendant, who had “no understanding of the meaning of consent”.
Videos were allegedly shown during the court proceedings of the rapes causing extreme distress to those present in the courtroom. Judge Cottage stated that “some who watched, wept”.
Zou, from South East London, was convicted of 11 counts of rape, three counts of voyeurism, 10 counts of possession of extreme pornographic images, one of false imprisonment and three counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offence.
Judge Cottage spoke directly to Zou during his sentencing, stating that “there is a high level of danger because of your distorted thinking. You are a risk for an indefinite period.”
She described him as a “highly manipulative and intelligent young man” with “no understanding of the meaning of consent”.
One of Zou’s victims told the court how she was forced to drink successive amounts of alcohol and was not allowed to leave his flat when she attempted to.
She described herself as “deeply affected” by the attack, going on to say she had “lost faith in human beings” and had “no trust in others” because prior to the attack she was “not aware that a human could do such evil things”.
She detailed how she struggles with flashbacks of what Zou did.
A second victim detailed how “what happened that night is etched into my soul forever”.
Twisted ‘trophy box’ of women’s possessions
Photos of the trophy box have been released, showing items such as hair ties, lipstick, socks, hair extensions, jewellery and keys.
Zou was born on February 20th 1997 and lived in China before moving to Churchyard Row, Elephant and Castle in London. Zou committed offences in both China and the UK.
Commander Kevin Southworth of the Metropolitan Police said that “I hope that the fact that Zou can no longer harm others serves as a small amount of comfort to the women who have suffered immeasurably”.
He also reminded the public that the investigation remains open at this time and the Metropolitan Police urge anyone who has been a victim of Zou to come forward.
Sara Pike from the Crown Prosecution Service described Zou as a “serial rapist and a danger to women” and that his life sentence reflects his heinous acts.”
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