Student's Disturbing Collection Linked to Drugging and Raping 10 Women, Including a Polar Bear Sock and Hair

A 28-year-old PhD student, Zhenhao Zou, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday at Inner London Crown Court after being convicted of drugging and raping ten women over a span of four years. The court imposed a minimum term of 22 years for his heinous crimes, which took place between 2019 and 2023 in both London and China.

Described as “smart and charming” by those who knew him, Zou was revealed to be a “persistent sexual predator” during the trial. Judge Rosina Cottage labeled him a "dangerous and predatory sexual offender" following his conviction on March 5.

Evidence presented in court detailed how Zou lured young Chinese women to his upscale residences, where he would intoxicate them with a mix of alcohol and drugs before assaulting them. Disturbingly, he recorded many of these attacks using hidden cameras. One particularly harrowing video shown to the jury depicted a semi-conscious woman pleading for him to stop.

Of the ten victims, only two have been identified, while the remaining eight remain untraceable. Zou kept a collection of trophies from his assaults, including a yellow Fendi box filled with jewelry, clothing, and personal items belonging to his victims. Among the items found were hair bands, a key, and a magnet.

Commander Kevin Southworth from the Metropolitan Police condemned Zou as “a depraved and cowardly individual” who exploited his victims in the most despicable ways. The investigation revealed that police reviewed over 700,000 pieces of evidence, including 1,277 videos, but found no indication of Zou's claims regarding his interest in specific pornography genres.

During his defense, Zou communicated through a Mandarin interpreter, expressing a preference for “specialist timestop” pornography. When questioned about his interests, he stated that he favored scenarios where women appeared still or asleep during sexual acts. His lawyer probed further into this preference, to which Zou admitted it was his favorite type.

Originally from China, Zou moved to Belfast in 2017 for studies at Queen’s University before relocating to London in 2019 for a master’s degree and subsequently a PhD at University College London. He faced a total of 35 charges, including ten counts of rape, three counts of voyeurism, and multiple counts related to possession of extreme pornographic images and controlled substances.

While he was acquitted of some charges, police believe Zou may be linked to approximately 50 additional rapes and are urging other potential victims to come forward. The Metropolitan Police described him as “the most substantial and prolific offender that we’ve come across in recent times.”