A Chinese student named Zou Zhenhao, aged 28, has been convicted in London for the heinous crimes of drugging and raping at least ten women, with authorities fearing that the true number of victims could be far higher. The Metropolitan Police has deemed him “one of the most prolific predators” they have encountered, following investigations that spanned from September 2019 to May 2023 and also involved assaults in his home country.
Zou, originally from Dongguan in China's Guangdong Province, was studying mechanical engineering at University College London when he targeted women from the student community as well as those he interacted with through social media and dating sites. The police highlighted that Zou used a combination of drugs to incapacitate his victims, often affecting their memories, potentially leaving many unaware of their assaults.
During the investigation, over 50 additional victims were identified through unsettling videos Zou recorded inside his residences, sparking concerns that some women depicted in these recordings may never be located due to the poor quality of the footage or the difficulty of tracking them down worldwide.
Commander Kevin Southworth, who led the Metropolitan Police's investigation, remarked that the nature of the crimes and the use of memory-altering drugs meant that some victims could remain unidentified indefinitely. Following the conviction, police have made public appeals encouraging other potential victims to come forward. The sentencing is awaited, and further revelations may arise as the legal proceedings continue.
