A PhD student has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 24 years for drugging and raping multiple women. Zhenhao Zou, 28, drugged and filmed himself raping at least 60 victims between 2019 and 2024 after inviting them to his flat under false pretenses. Since his conviction, more than 20 women have come forward, with many more victims still unidentified.

Originally from China, Zou admitted in court to watching extreme pornography depicting unconscious women being assaulted. He was found guilty of raping three women in London and seven in China, totaling 28 offenses. These included voyeurism, possession of extreme pornography, and drugs for sexual offenses.

Upon his arrest in January 2024 in London, police discovered 58 videos of Zou raping women he had drugged. The footage showed the victims pleading for him to stop before losing consciousness. Zou was apprehended after a woman reported him to the police in November 2023, leading to his arrest upon his return from China.

During the trial, Zou appeared mild-mannered but bragged about having multiple sexual partners weekly and expressed a preference for pornography where women are unresponsive during sex. He was convicted of 28 counts, including 11 rapes and one false imprisonment charge.

Following the sentencing, the Metropolitan police revealed that 24 more women had come forward, and they were investigating further potential victims. Commander Kevin Southworth assured victims that they would be treated with empathy and respect if they came forward.

Zou, a PhD student in mechanical engineering at University College London, used social media and dating sites to target victims. Described as charming, he had studied in Belfast before moving to London. Police urged anyone with information to come forward.