A PhD student convicted of raping and drugging women in London and China has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years. Zhenhao Zou, a Chinese national, raped three women in London and another seven in China between September 2019 and May 2023. He kept a trophy box of women's belongings and filmed nine of the rapes, as the victims lost consciousness. Three of the 10 victims have been identified, prosecutors say, but Metropolitan Police detectives fear he could have targeted dozens more women. Since the trial, 24 more potential victims have come forward. Judge Rosina Cottage KC told Zou: "You appear to the world to be a very well-to-do man - you are also a sexual predator." She said Zou "planned and executed a campaign of rape", treating the women "callously" and as "sex toys" for his own pleasure, which had "devastating and long-term effects". Judge Cottage added that Zou had a "sexual interest" in "asserting power and control over women", and that the victims were "pieces in an elaborate game" for the defendant, who had "no understanding of the meaning of consent". This article contains distressing details During sentencing at Inner London Crown Court, she added: "You told (the victims) that resistance was futile. "Sometimes you would be begged to stop - you sought power over them - these women you treated callously and used them as sex toys for your pleasure." Judge Cottage said the court had watched videos of the rapes which were "extremely distressing". "Some who watched, wept," she said. Zou, who was living in Elephant and Castle, south-east London, was convicted of 11 counts of rape, with two of the offences relating to one victim. He was also convicted of three counts of voyeurism, 10 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and three of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offence. Judge Cottage told Zou: "You are a highly manipulative and intelligent young man - but you have no understanding of the meaning of consent. "There is a high level of danger because of your distorted thinking - you are a risk for an indefinite period." In a victim impact statement, a woman who was raped after Zou pushed her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and would not let her leave his flat wrote the attack had "deeply affected" her personality. "I have lost faith in human beings, I have no trust in others. Before this incident, I was not aware that a human could do such evil things. When I meet with strangers, I get flashbacks of what he did." A second identified woman, who is now living in China, was also raped by Zou in his student flat near Russell Square in October 2021 when she was unconscious. She said: "I know words will never fully convey the depth of this wound. But one thing is certain, what happened that night is etched into my soul forever. "His face, his expression - they will never leave me. I will never forgive him." After sentencing, Det Insp Richard Mackenzie from the Met Police said Zou was "one of the most prolific predators we have ever seen". Commander Kevin Southworth said: "I hope the fact Zou can no longer harm others serves as a small amount of comfort to the women who have suffered immeasurably. "I would also like to take this opportunity to stress that our investigation remains open and we continue to appeal to anyone who may think they have been a victim of Zou. "Please come forward and speak with our team - we will treat you with empathy, kindness and respect." Saira Pike, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Zou was a "serial rapist and a danger to women" and that "his life sentence reflects his heinous acts". She added: "I'd like to take this opportunity to once again express my heartfelt thanks to the courageous women who came forward to report Zou's horrific crimes. "They have been incredibly strong and brave - there is no doubt that their evidence helped us to secure his conviction, and the life sentence handed to him today." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London onSoundsand follow BBC London onFacebook,XandInstagram. Send your story ideas tohello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Student who raped 10 women jailed for 24 years
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"PhD Student Sentenced to 24 Years for Rape of Ten Women"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Zhenhao Zou, a PhD student originally from China, has been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of rape and sexual offenses against women in both London and China. Between September 2019 and May 2023, Zou committed a series of heinous acts, including the rape of ten women, three in London and seven in China. His actions were not only predatory but also meticulously planned, as he kept a trophy box of his victims' belongings and filmed nine of the assaults while the women were incapacitated. During the trial, it became evident that Zou's actions were part of a broader campaign of sexual violence, raising concerns among law enforcement that he may have targeted many more women, with 24 additional potential victims emerging since the trial began. The presiding judge, Rosina Cottage KC, characterized Zou as a highly manipulative individual with a profound misunderstanding of consent, emphasizing the long-lasting psychological impact on the victims he exploited.
In a deeply emotional sentencing hearing at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Cottage condemned Zou's actions as callous and indicative of a dangerous mindset, where he viewed women merely as objects for his gratification. The judge recounted the distressing nature of the videos presented in court, stating that they moved many observers to tears. Victim impact statements revealed the profound trauma inflicted on the survivors, with one victim expressing a loss of faith in humanity and enduring flashbacks of her assault. Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Richard Mackenzie described Zou as one of the most prolific predators encountered by the Metropolitan Police. Authorities continue to encourage anyone who may have been victimized by Zou to come forward, assuring them of a compassionate and respectful investigation process. The case has garnered significant attention, highlighting the bravery of the women who stepped forward to testify against Zou and the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to seek justice for victims of sexual violence.
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