Latest news with #ElizabethCook
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
Former Queen's University Belfast student jailed for life in the UK for raping 10 women
A CHINESE STUDENT who studied at Queen's University Belfast PhD, described as 'one of the most prolific predators' in the UK, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years. PhD student Zhenhao Zou, 28, drugged and raped 10 women in London and China. He kept a trophy box of women's belongings and filmed nine of the rapes on women as they lost consciousness. Three of the 10 victims have been identified, prosecutors say, but Metropolitan Police detectives fear he could have targeted dozens more women. Sentencing Zou at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Rosina Cottage told him he would serve 22 years and 227 days before he was eligible for parole, taking into account time spent on remand. The judge said the defendant is a 'very bright young man' who used a manipulative 'charming mask' to hide that he is a 'sexual predator'. She said that 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'. The judge told the court that Zou has a 'sexual interest' in 'asserting power and control over women', adding that the victims were 'pieces in an elaborate game' for the defendant, who has 'no understanding of the meaning of consent'. Detective inspector Richard Mackenzie told reporters outside the court: 'The sheer scale of his offending, which spanned two countries, makes him one of the most prolific predators we have ever seen.' Elizabeth Cook / PA Elizabeth Cook / PA / PA After a month-long trial, Zou, who was most recently living in Elephant and Castle, south-east London, was found guilty of raping three women in London and another seven in China between September 2019 and May 2023. He was convicted of 11 counts of rape, with two of the offences relating to one victim. Zou 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, namely butanediol. Prosecutors said Zou appeared to be 'a smart and charming young man', but was in fact 'a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist'. He comes from a wealthy family, affording a Rolex, a wardrobe of designer clothes, cosmetic procedures such as a hair transplant and facial surgery, and thousands in monthly rent while living in London as an international engineering student. Zou, who also used the name Pakho online, befriended fellow Chinese students on WeChat and dating apps before inviting them for drinks and drugging them at his flats in London or an unknown location in China. The student first moved to Belfast in 2017 to study mechanical engineering at Queen's University before heading to London in 2019 to do a master's degree and then a PhD at University College London (UCL). Advertisement His crimes began to be uncovered in November 2023, when a woman went to police to allege she had been attacked by Zou. There was not enough evidence to bring a criminal charge over the claim, but when Zou's phone was seized, officers found disturbing videos of him raping unconscious women, and pipettes and sedating drugs were discovered in his flat. One of the identified women was raped after Zou pushed her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and would not let her leave his flat in Elephant and Castle in May 2023. She said in her victim impact statement: '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, the court heard. 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.' Scotland Yard said 24 women came forward following publicity in the media around Zou's trial to say they think they may have been attacked by him. Prosecutors say among them was a victim in China, known as Female D. In her statement, she wrote of being 'trapped in self-blame', 'gagged by shame' and being 'haunted' by nightmares of what happened. Commander Kevin Southworth, of the Metropolitan Police 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 that Zou is a 'serial rapist and a danger to women'. 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.' Zou's case has chilling parallels with Reynhard Sinaga, 41, who was jailed for life in January 2020 at Manchester Crown Court after being found guilty of 159 counts of sexual offences against 48 different men. He also befriended his victims and invited them back to his flat, before drugging and sexually assaulting them. There was also the case of serial killer Stephen Port, who received a whole life term after raping and murdering four men with overdoses of the sedative drug GHB, and drugging and sexually assaulting seven others who survived.
Wales Online
30-05-2025
- Wales Online
Liverpool parade crash accused Paul Doyle holds back tears as he appears in court
Liverpool parade crash accused Paul Doyle holds back tears as he appears in court Paul Doyle shook his heard as court was told the 53-year-old drove deliberately into the crowd at Liverpool FC's victory parade Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Paul Doyle, 53, appearing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court (Image: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved ) The alleged driver of a car that rammed into people in the crowd during Liverpool's Premier League victory parade appeared tearful as he appeared in court. Paul Doyle, 53, of West Derby, Liverpool, is charged with seven offences relating to the incident Water Street in the city centre on Monday, in which 79 people suffering injuries. He appeared in Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Friday morning Doyle was wearing a black suit, white shirt and grey tie and looked emotional as he was brought in from the cells. He looked around at the dozens of reporters packing the courtroom, his face crumpling slightly as he held back tears. Asked to identify himself by District Judge Paul Healey, Doyle confirmed his name and gave his date of birth and address in Liverpool in a croaky voice,. The father of three was remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday afternoon. He is accused of two counts of wounding with intent, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of dangerous driving. The charges relate to six victims, including two children. Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Paul Doyle, 53, appearing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court (Image: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved ) The ages of those injured ranged from nine to 78. District judge Healey said there were real prospects of further charges, adding he was satisfied this was an "exceptional case" that "shocked and outraged" the people of Liverpool and beyond. He granted the prosecution's request for orders protecting the identities of the six complainants. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has previously the charges would be kept "under review as the investigation progresses". Article continues below Chief crown prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, Sarah Hammond, said: "The investigation is at an early stage. Prosecutors and police are continuing to work at pace to review a huge volume of evidence. This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure every victim gets the justice they deserve." On Thursday, police said seven people remain in hospital. Police previously said they believed the car that struck pedestrians was able to follow an ambulance crew attending to someone suffering a heart attack after a road block was temporarily lifted.
