British court finds 'charming' Chinese PhD student guilty of drugging and raping 10 women; he had filmed rapes and kept women's belongings as 'souvenirs'

A 28-year-old a PhD student at University College London has been convicted on Wednesday of drugging and raping 10 women.

According to the UK daily The Guardian, he flew to China just days after a woman accused him of raping her in November 2023. He was arrested on his return to London in January 2024.

A jury at Inner Crown Court found him guilty of raping three women in England and seven in China between 2019 and 2023.

The man, identified as Zhenhao Zou, had filmed nine of the rapes and kept a collection of women's belongings as "souvenirs." Police have identified only two of his victims.

Most of the victims in the footage were unconscious, allegedly drugged by Zou. The videos Zou filmed became key evidence in his conviction.

Victims found through dating apps

Zou targeted women through dating apps, inviting them home for drinks before drugging them at his London flat or unknown locations in China.

The prosecutor, Catherine Farrelly KC, described him as a "persistent sexual predator" who appeared smart and charming but exploited women for his crimes.

He was also convicted of possessing extreme pornography, illegal possession of the restricted drug butanediol which he used to commit rape, and false imprisonment.

Zou moved to London in 2019 to pursue a master's degree before enrolling in a PhD program in mechanical engineering.