More than 20 women have come forward with allegations against a Chinese student in London, Zou Zhenhao, who was convicted last month of drugging and raping 10 women in Britain and China.
The Metropolitan Police in London reported that 23 women contacted them with new allegations following Zou's conviction. The women reside in various locations, including Britain and China. Authorities previously indicated that they believe Zou may have assaulted over 50 women, based on hundreds of videos found on his devices.
Zou was a Ph.D. student at University College London from 2019 until 2024. During his trial, it was revealed that he lured women to his apartments in both London and China, where he committed his assaults.
The police stated that Zou met his victims through dating apps like Bumble and Chinese social media platforms such as WeChat and Little Red Book. He specifically targeted Chinese students living in London, whom he may have encountered at parties and student gatherings.
On March 5, a jury found Zou guilty of 11 counts of rape, along with related charges of drug possession intended for sexual assault, voyeurism, and possession of extreme pornography.
While two women testified against him in court, eight others remain unidentified. Authorities believe some victims may not be aware of the assaults due to being drugged. Following the conviction, police have urged additional victims to come forward.
After Zou's arrest in January 2024, investigators discovered hundreds of videos on his devices showing him raping and assaulting multiple women. Police meticulously analyzed thousands of gigabytes of data that illustrated a pattern of his crimes.
According to officials, Zou would offer his victims drinks laced with butanediol, a chemical that converts to GHB, a well-known date rape drug. Once the women were incapacitated, he assaulted them while filming the incidents.
The women’s identities were often obscured in the videos, complicating identification efforts. However, investigators reported that Zou kept personal items from his victims, including jewelry and clothing, found in his apartment.
Police believe Zou employed similar tactics in China, with video evidence suggesting some attacks occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. British authorities collaborated with their Chinese counterparts to locate one of the women who testified against him.
Since his conviction, two additional women have alleged attacks by Zou in China. One woman described an incident at a family villa following a date, while another reported an assault in London during 2021.
Before studying in London, Zou attended Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The investigation into Zou began in 2023 after a victim, a Chinese national studying in London, shared her experience on social media, which led others to recognize him as their attacker.
Kevin Southworth, a commander in the Metropolitan Police, characterized Zou as a "dangerous and prolific sexual predator" who manipulated and drugged women. Police reiterated their appeal for any additional victims to come forward, believing more may still be unaccounted for.
A sentencing date for Zou has been set for June 19.