Zhenhao Zou, a convicted rapist. Credit: Metropolitan Police
A Chinese doctoral student who drugged at least 10 women in London and China has been sentenced to life in prison for a minimum term of 24 years in prison following a tragic trial that exposed the scale of his abuse.
Zhenhao Zou, 28, was convicted at Crown Court in London on Thursday, June 19th at Rape. This was convicted along with multiple charges including eavesdropping with intent to commit a sexual offence, false imprisonment and possession of sedatives. His ruling follows a month-long trial that revealed shocking footage of the attack, with metropolitan police saying they feared that as many as 24 more women could have been targeted.
Zhenhao Zou seeks chemical castration
The court heard that Zou, who studied at Queen’s University Belfast and later at London University, seduced fellow students on WeChat and dating apps before drugging and raping them in London flats and unknown places in China.
Zou, described by prosecutors as “a persistent sexual predator, voyeurism, rapist,” has offered to be chemically castrated to reduce his sentence. However, this was dismissed due to the severity of the harm caused to his victims.
Zhenhao Zou’s victims are plagued by trauma and fear
Three of Zou’s 10 victims were identified, and their catastrophic victim impact statements were read in court. One woman raped at Castle Flat with an elephant in May 2023 wrote:
“I have lost faith in humans. I have no trust in others. Meet strangers and I get flashbacks of what he did.”
She also expressed deep fears about Zou’s “very powerful” family in China.
Another victim, unconsciously raped in Russell Square in October 2021, said, “I opened my eyes for a few seconds during the sexual assault… I was completely helpless… his face, his expression, they will never leave me.
The third woman known as Woman D says she was “confined to self-deprecation” and “being entrusted to embarrassment,” adding that she was “ghosted” in her nightmare. (Quote) LBC. )
Police began an investigation in November 2023 after the woman moved forward. Although there was not enough evidence in her case, the contents of Zou’s seized phone revealed traces of trophy boxes, rape recordings and sedative pignedior in his flats.
After media coverage of the trial, he said he believes that more than 20 women could be Zou’s victims. Prosecutors have revealed that only three victims have been formally identified, but they fear that the true number will be much higher.
Having lived a luxurious lifestyle thanks to a wealthy background, including Rolex, designer clothing and cosmetic surgery, Zou was hiding behind the image of a “smart and attractive young man,” prosecutors said.
The scale and atrocities of the incident have shocked communities both in Britain and China. Despite Zou’s life sentence, many have questioned how he was able to avoid doubt for a very long time, especially given the amount of disturbing evidence that finally uncovered.
Chemical castration
Zou’s offer of chemical castration rekindled debate about whether it should be part of a violent sex offender’s sentence. This process includes hormone-changing drugs to reduce libido and are already being used voluntarily in some countries, such as Indonesia and Pakistan.
Should the rapist be able to negotiate a life sentence by offering his sexual desire? Or is the exact proposal a shame for their trauma and forever victims?
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