Chinese serial rapist charged for drug-rape sentenced to life imprisonment in UK
發佈日期: 2025-06-20 21:43
TVB News
A British judge sentenced a 28-year-old Chinese former PhD student to a minimum of 24 years in prison for drugging and raping 10 women in England and China.
As more women come forward, police in London said they have evidence to suggest there may be over 50 other victims.
Zou Zhenhao, a former PhD student at University College London, was found guilty in March of convicting 28 offences, including 11 counts of rape against 10 women between 2019 and 2023.
The man is believed to be one of the most prolific sexual offenders in Britain.
His trial opened at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday.
Jurors heard how Zou used drugs such as butanediol to incapacitate young women whom he invited to his London flat for drinks or study, until they became unconscious and defenceless.
Reports say three of his victims were raped in London and seven in China.
Zou also filmed tapes of himself raping and sexually assaulting the victims with hidden or handheld cameras, and kept some of their belongings in what he calls a "trophy box."
Following his arrest in January last year, police found 1,664 hours of footage obtained from his phones and laptops, which included 58 clips of sexual assualts.
According to a pre-sentence report, Zou claimed the encounters were consensual and even requested chemical castration as part of a bid to seek a softer prison sentence.
Describing Zou as "highly manipulative," Judge Rosina Cottage said there was no doubt he "planned and executed a campaign of rape" which had devastating and long-term effects on the victims.
She said Zou "gave no thought at all of the wishes and feelings of the women" he attacked.
He was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years.
The judge said he would serve 22 years and 227 days before he was eligible for parole, the court heard.
Prosecutor Saira Pike praised the incredible courage of over 20 victims who came forward to report Zou's crimes, saying the evidence they presented helped to secure his conviction and the life sentence.
