Two women who reported being drugged and raped by prolific sex offender Zhenhao Zou stated they were attacked within 24 hours of each other, as confirmed by the BBC. The first victim, referred to as Rachel, expressed shock upon learning about the second attack and felt guilt for not reporting her own assault sooner.
Initially, Metropolitan Police investigators questioned whether the two women might have been the same person, due to the similarity in their stories and the close timing of the incidents.
A source familiar with the investigation highlighted Zou's audacity, noting that his apparent confidence indicated he was escalating his criminal behavior.
Zou was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 24 years, in June after being convicted of drugging and raping 10 women—three in the UK and seven in China—from September 2019 to May 2023, all of whom were Chinese nationals. Authorities fear he may have attacked as many as 50 more women.
In the aftermath of his trial, 24 additional women came forward in both the UK and China, including Rachel and Female D.
The details of Rachel's assault indicate she met Zou for drinks in late October 2022. After being drugged with a cocktail prepared by Zou, she was unable to resist as he raped her in his villa near Dongguan, China. Despite attempts to call for help, Zou took her phone and even spoke to her friend himself, avoiding detection.
The story then transitions to discuss Female D, who was assaulted just hours after Zou dropped Rachel home. She, too, was drugged and raped, and video evidence of her assault was used against him in court.
Rachel decided to report her experience to the police only after Zou's conviction, feeling that her earlier silence might have helped prevent Female D's assault. Both women continue to grapple with the mental toll of their experiences, underscoring the need for survivors to feel safe in coming forward.
Initially, Metropolitan Police investigators questioned whether the two women might have been the same person, due to the similarity in their stories and the close timing of the incidents.
A source familiar with the investigation highlighted Zou's audacity, noting that his apparent confidence indicated he was escalating his criminal behavior.
Zou was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 24 years, in June after being convicted of drugging and raping 10 women—three in the UK and seven in China—from September 2019 to May 2023, all of whom were Chinese nationals. Authorities fear he may have attacked as many as 50 more women.
In the aftermath of his trial, 24 additional women came forward in both the UK and China, including Rachel and Female D.
The details of Rachel's assault indicate she met Zou for drinks in late October 2022. After being drugged with a cocktail prepared by Zou, she was unable to resist as he raped her in his villa near Dongguan, China. Despite attempts to call for help, Zou took her phone and even spoke to her friend himself, avoiding detection.
The story then transitions to discuss Female D, who was assaulted just hours after Zou dropped Rachel home. She, too, was drugged and raped, and video evidence of her assault was used against him in court.
Rachel decided to report her experience to the police only after Zou's conviction, feeling that her earlier silence might have helped prevent Female D's assault. Both women continue to grapple with the mental toll of their experiences, underscoring the need for survivors to feel safe in coming forward.
