# London student who drugged and raped 10 women may have 50 more victims, police fear

Police source says extent of Zhenhao Zou’s violence against women could be worst seen in Britain

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Police fear the PhD student convicted of drugging and raping 10 women could be one of the worst sexual offenders in British history after recovering videos of him attacking a further 50 victims.

Zhenhao Zou, 28, was convicted on Wednesday of raping three women in London and seven in China between 2019 and 2024. He filmed most of his rapes, and the videos provided key evidence leading to him being convicted and facing years in jail.

Zhou was a Chinese national who was convicted of a total of 28 counts, including 11 rape attacks on 10 women and one count of false imprisonment. He was also found guilty of 10 counts of possessing extreme pornography, three counts of voyeurism, and three counts of committing an offence, namely of possessing butanediol, which is metabolized into the date rape drug GHB.

Zhou said he was a user of extreme pornography who was aroused most by watching videos of sex with unconscious women and was sexually excited by the idea of rape. He also claimed he had one date-rape drug for use as a moisturizer but then changed his story before the jury to claim he had used it to get high when he went out clubbing.

The Met commander Kevin Southworth said Zhou was “predatory and cowardly” and one of the worst offenders police had investigated in recent times. The effect of the date-rape drugs he used could mean victims may not know Zou attacked them.

Southworth said: “This man may well turn out to be one of the most prolific sexual offenders we have ever seen in this country.

“Some women may not know they were victims.”

Zhou, a young woman of Chinese heritage, was arrested on his return to the UK in January 2024. Police found designer clothing at his London home, which still had tags on, and a box believed to contain “souvenirs” of his victims.

Zhou gave evidence during the trial across five days, changing his evidence as he went along. He claimed he had one date-rape drug for use as a moisturizer but then changed his story before the jury to claim he had used it to get high when he went out clubbing.

The judge, Rosina Cottage KC, warned Zhou she was considering a life sentence and told his barrister: “I find your client is a dangerous and predatory sexual offender.

“He need be in no doubt that the sentence will be very long.”

He will be sentenced on 19 June.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Zou can contact police on .

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## Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations:

*  - Offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland.
*  - Offers support on 800-656-4673.
*  (1800 737 732) - Offers support for Australia.
* Other international helplines can be found at .

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