Chinese PhD student sentenced to life in UK for drugging, raping, and filming women
A 28-year-old Chinese PhD student at University College London has been sentenced to life in prison for drugging, raping, and filming women in Britain and China. Police described him as one of the most prolific predators they have ever encountered.
- Zou Zhenhao, 28, sentenced to life at Inner London Crown Court on 19 June 2025.
- Must serve minimum 24 years before parole eligibility.
- Convicted of 28 offences, including 11 rapes.
- Used dating apps and WeChat to lure women, then drugged, raped, and filmed them.
- Police uncovered 1,600+ hours of footage; estimate over 50 victims.
- Victims reported severe trauma; prosecutors described the abuse as systematic and predatory.
- UCL suspended Zou after his 2024 arrest and is reviewing safeguarding measures.
- Case prompts renewed calls for stronger online safety and awareness of drug-assisted sexual assault.
On 19 June 2025, Inner London Crown Court sentenced Zou Zhenhao, 28, to life imprisonment for a series of sexual assaults against women in Britain and China.
Zou, a PhD student at University College London (UCL), must serve at least 24 years before becoming eligible for parole. He was convicted in March of 28 offences, including 11 counts of rape.
Judge Rosina Cottage KC described him as “a highly manipulative and intelligent young man who gave no thought at all of the wishes and feelings of the women he attacked.”
How the attacks were carried out
Prosecutors said Zou lured women via dating apps and WeChat, inviting them to his flat under the guise of studying or socialising.
Once there, he drugged them with sedatives before assaulting them while unconscious. He secretly filmed the attacks with hidden cameras, and kept clothing and jewellery from victims as “trophies.”
Police later discovered:
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Over 1,600 hours of video footage
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Millions of digital messages implicating him in assaults
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Sedatives including butanediol stored in his flat
Detective Inspector Richard MacKenzie of the Metropolitan Police said the “sheer scale of his offending makes him one of the most prolific predators we have ever seen.”
Victims’ testimonies
During sentencing, victims described the devastating impact of Zou’s crimes.
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One said: “What happened that night is etched into my soul forever.”
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Others reported severe anxiety, depression, and a lasting sense of violation.
Prosecutors estimate Zou may have drugged and assaulted more than 50 women in total, though many victims remain unidentified.
Investigation and academic background
The case began in late 2023, when a woman reported her assault. A subsequent search of Zou’s flat revealed extensive evidence of premeditated abuse.
Originally from Dongguan, Guangdong Province, Zou moved to the UK in 2017 and enrolled at UCL in 2019. He was suspended from his doctoral programme following his arrest in early 2024.
UCL has since launched a review of its safeguarding procedures, particularly for international students.
Calls for action and next steps
Authorities are appealing for additional victims to come forward in both the UK and China. Commander Kevin Southworth of the Metropolitan Police pledged that survivors would be treated with “empathy, kindness and respect.”
The case has renewed calls for:
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Stronger safety measures on dating apps and digital platforms
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Greater awareness of drug-facilitated sexual assault
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Improved safeguarding in university settings
The Crown Prosecution Service emphasised the role of digital forensic work, with analysts sifting through hundreds of gigabytes of material to identify victims.
