Zhenhao Zou, a former UCL PhD Student, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 24 years after having been found guilty of raping ten women in China and the U.K.
Zou was convicted of eleven counts of rape on ten women, along with a number of other offences including ten counts of possession of extreme pornography, three of possession of drugs with intent to commit sexual assault, three of voyeurism and one count of false imprisonment.
The police previously revealed that video evidence showed there may be as many as 50 other victims. However, only three out of the ten women Zou has been convicted of raping have been identified by the police.
Prosecutor Corinne Bramwell said there have been a further 24 complainants who have come forward following the sentencing, and “it’s anticipated that there may be further charges.”
Police Commander Kevin Southworth previously told the BBC that: “This man may well turn out to be one of the most prolific sexual predators that we’ve ever seen in this country”.
A pre-sentence report revealed that Zou offered to be “chemically castrated” in order to receive a lighter sentence, but said that this offer was not made in recognition of his actions.
The police found his bedroom to have been equipped with hidden cameras and discovered a cupboard full of alcohol and drugs including an industrial chemical that turns into the “date rape” drug GHB when ingested.
A victim statement was read out at the sentencing, describing her harrowing encounter with Zou — she said “tumbling out of the room I found myself in a completely unknown place… exposed and violated without my consent”.
“To this day I struggle to trust anyone […] what happened that night is etched into my soul forever”.
Another victim described how the attack has impacted her University life, saying “I can’t attend in-person lectures, I watch all lectures on recording”. She continued to say “I’m reluctant to go to new social gatherings as I have no trust in others.”
In the sentencing statement, the judge revealed that one of the victims was ‘outrageously’ trolled on social media for warning others about Zou.
“There is a high level of danger because of your distorted thinking”, said Judge Rosina Cottage KC.
The judge said that Zou’s desire to assert power and control means he is a “risk for an indefinite period” and, given the picture laid out, a life sentence is necessary.
Following the sentencing, DI Richard Mackenzie from the Met police said “This has been one of the most complex, challenging and heartrending investigations that we have ever carried out… it is one that will stay with us forever”
The Met has made a direct appeal to anyone who has information, or is potentially a victim, to come forward.
If you have information related to these crimes, please contact survivors@met.police.uk, call 101, or visit the dedicated webpage.
Saira Pike, a senior crown prosecutor said “Zou is a serial rapist and a danger to women”
“I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my heartfelt thanks to the courageous women who have come forward to report Zou’s horrific crimes.”
“There is no doubt that their evidence has helped us to secure his conviction and the life sentence handed to him today”
In response to the sentencing, Dr Michael Spence, UCL President & Provost, said: “These horrific offences have profoundly shocked our community. Today’s life sentence ensures that Zou will rightly spend a very long time in prison.
“Throughout this deeply distressing case, our thoughts have remained with the survivors. We commend the bravery of the women who came forward, reported these crimes, and gave evidence during the trial.
“Our focus continues to be on supporting our students, alumni, and staff. We offer a range of services, including 24/7 access to confidential support lines and mental health professionals such as trained counsellors and psychologists. We also work closely with specialist organisations like Rape Crisis to ensure comprehensive support is available. Anyone at UCL who has been affected—directly or indirectly—can access these services.
“We fully supported the Metropolitan Police throughout their investigations and thank both the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for ensuring this offender was brought to justice. We continue to support the Police appeal and encourage anyone with information related to these crimes to come forward—via the dedicated webpage, by emailing survivors@met.police.uk, or by calling 101—if they feel comfortable doing so.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this report, support is available.
- Contact Rape Crisis England & Wales for confidential 24/7 support for survivors of sexual violence at 0808 500 2222 or visit www.rapecrisis.org.uk.
- Contact Victim Support for free 24/7 help with emotional and practical support for anyone affected by crime at 0808 168 9111 or visit www.victimsupport.org.uk.
- Contact Samaritans for 24/7 emotional support for anyone in distress or struggling with mental health at 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
