Latest news with #Zou
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Chinese student gets life in UK jail for 'campaign of rape'
LONDON: A Chinese post-graduate student convicted of drugging and raping 10 women in the UK and China — and suspected of having attacked more — was on Thursday jailed for life by a London court. Police in London say they have evidence to suggest he may have targeted more than 50 other women. Serial rapist Zhenhao Zou, 28 — described in court as "calculated and predatory" — targeted young Chinese women whom he invited to his London flat for drinks or to study, before drugging and attacking them. Zou filmed nine of the rapes with hidden or handheld cameras, but only three of the 10 victims have ever been identified. Sentencing him at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Rosina Cottage said there was "no doubt that you planned and executed a campaign of rape" that had caused "devastating and long-term effects." To the world, he appeared "well-to-do, ambitious and charming," but this was a mask hiding a "sexual predator," she said. He treated his victims "callously" as "sex toys" for his own gratification, and his desire to assert "power and control over women" meant that he would be a "risk for an indefinite period," she added. Zou, wearing a dark suit and glasses, listened impassively in the dock to the sentence via a translator. He will serve a minimum of 22 years in jail, after accounting for time already spent in custody. The former engineering student at University College London was found guilty by a jury in March of 28 offences, including 11 counts of rape — with two of the counts relating to one woman — three counts of voyeurism, and one of false imprisonment. He was found guilty of raping three women in London and seven in China between 2019 and 2023. He was also convicted of three counts of possessing butanediol — an industrial solvent — with intent to commit a sexual offence, and 10 counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image. Victims told the sentencing hearing in impact statements of the psychological damage they suffered, including nightmares, self-harm, and a sense of despair and isolation. One recalled "wandering like a trapped animal trying to find an exit" after she was attacked. "What happened that night is etched into my soul forever," she said, adding that Zou's family was "very powerful in China" and she feared he would "seek revenge." After the sentence, Saira Pike of the Crown Prosecution Service described Zou as a "serial rapist and a danger to women." "His life sentence reflects the heinous acts and harm he caused to women and the danger he posed to society." Analysis of footage and web chats showed the former student's "meticulous planning and the horrifying execution of his crimes." Pike paid tribute to the "courageous women" who came forward to report his "horrific crimes," and whose evidence — combined with his own videos — helped secure his conviction and life sentence. Since he was convicted, and following an international appeal by UK police, some 24 women have come forward to say they might have been sexually assaulted by Zou. London's Met Police have said they have evidence to suggest he may have targeted more than 50 other women, and urged possible victims to come forward, adding that he had also studied in Belfast in Northern Ireland in 2017. "Our investigation remains open, and we continue to appeal to anyone who may think they have been a victim of Zou," said Commander Kevin Southworth of the Metropolitan Police. "Please come forward and speak with our team — we will treat you with empathy, kindness and respect."
RTHK
14 hours ago
- RTHK
Chinese post-grad student gets life for rape spree
Chinese post-grad student gets life for rape spree Zou Zhenhao is suspected to have targeted 50 more women on top of the 10 he had raped in the UK and China. File photo: Reuters A Chinese post-graduate student convicted of drugging and raping 10 women in the UK and China and suspected of having attacked more has been jailed for life by a London court. Police in London say they have evidence to suggest Zou Zhenhao might have targeted more than 50 other women. Described in court as "calculated and predatory", Zou, 28, targeted young Chinese women whom he invited to his London flat for drinks or to study before drugging and attacking them. He filmed nine of the rapes with hidden or handheld cameras, but only three of the 10 victims have ever been identified. Sentencing him at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Rosina Cottage said there was "no doubt that you planned and executed a campaign of rape" that had caused "devastating and long term effects". To the world he appeared "well to do, ambitious and charming" but this was a mask hiding a "sexual predator", she said. He treated his victims "callously" as "sex toys" for his own gratification, and his desire to assert "power and control over women" meant that he would be a "risk for an indefinite period", she added. Zou, wearing a dark suit and glasses, listened impassively in the dock to the sentence via a translator. He will serve a minimum of 22 years in jail, after accounting for time already spent in custody. The former engineering student at University College London was found guilty by a jury in March of 28 offences including 11 counts of rape – with two of the counts relating to one woman – three counts of voyeurism and one of false imprisonment. He was found guilty of raping three women in London and seven in China between 2019 and 2023. He was also convicted of three counts of possessing butanediol – an industrial solvent – with intent to commit a sexual offence and 10 counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image. Victims told the sentencing hearing in impact statements of the psychological damage they suffered including nightmares, self harm and a sense of despair and isolation. One recalled "wandering like a trapped animal trying to find an exit" after she was attacked. "What happened that night is etched into my soul forever," she said. (AFP)
HKFP
15 hours ago
- HKFP
UK court sentences Chinese student to life in prison for ‘campaign of rape'
A Chinese post-graduate student convicted of drugging and raping 10 women in the UK and China and suspected of having attacked more was on Thursday jailed for life by a London court. Police in London say they have evidence to suggest he may have targeted more than 50 other women. Serial rapist Zhenhao Zou, 28 — described in court as 'calculated and predatory' — targeted young Chinese women whom he invited to his London flat for drinks or to study before drugging and attacking them. Zou filmed nine of the rapes with hidden or handheld cameras, but only three of the 10 victims have ever been identified. Sentencing him at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Rosina Cottage said there was 'no doubt that you planned and executed a campaign of rape' that had caused 'devastating and long term effects'. To the world he appeared 'well to do, ambitious and charming' but this was a mask hiding a 'sexual predator', she said. He treated his victims 'callously' as 'sex toys' for his own gratification, and his desire to assert 'power and control over women' meant that he would be a 'risk for an indefinite period', she added. Zou, wearing a dark suit and glasses, listened impassively in the dock to the sentence via a translator. He will serve a minimum of 22 years in jail, after accounting for time already spent in custody. The former engineering student at University College London was found guilty by a jury in March of 28 offences including 11 counts of rape — with two of the counts relating to one woman — three counts of voyeurism and one of false imprisonment. He was found guilty of raping three women in London and seven in China between 2019 and 2023. He was also convicted of three counts of possessing butanediol — an industrial solvent — with intent to commit a sexual offence and 10 counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image. 'Prolific' rapist Victims told the sentencing hearing in impact statements of the psychological damage they suffered including nightmares, self harm and a sense of despair and isolation. One recalled 'wandering like a trapped animal trying to find an exit' after she was attacked. 'What happened that night is etched into my soul forever,' she said, adding that Zou's family was 'very powerful in China' and she feared he would 'seek revenge'. After the sentence, Saira Pike of the Crown Prosecution Service described Zou as a 'serial rapist and a danger to women'. 'His life sentence reflects the heinous acts and harm he caused to women and the danger he posed to society.' Analysis of footage and web chats showed the former student's 'meticulous planning and the horrifying execution of his crimes'. And Pike paid tribute to the 'courageous women' who came forward to report his 'horrific crimes' and whose evidence — combined with his own videos — helped secure his conviction and life sentence. Since he was convicted, and following an international appeal by UK police, some 24 women had come forward to say they might have been sexually assaulted by Zou. London's Met police have said they have evidence to suggest he may have targeted more than 50 other women and urged possible victims to come forward, adding that he had also studied in Belfast in Northern Ireland in 2017. 'Our investigation remains open and we continue to appeal to anyone who may think they have been a victim of Zou,' said Commander Kevin Southworth of the Metropolitan Police. 'Please come forward and speak with our team -– we will treat you with empathy, kindness and respect.' LATEST FROM HKFP Schools must be national security 'gatekeepers,' gov't says after principal warns against US consulate event Gov't vows strict vetting of applications for event subsidies, performance venues to prevent 'soft resistance' UK court sentences Chinese student to life in prison for 'campaign of rape' Hong Kong proposes registration of subdivided flats from March 2026 to phase out 'substandard' living spaces
NBC News
15 hours ago
- NBC News
Chinese Ph.D. student sentenced to at least 24 years in prison for raping multiple women
LONDON — A British judge on Thursday sentenced a Chinese Ph.D. student to a minimum of 24 years in prison for drugging and raping 10 women in England and China. Zhenhao Zou, 28, was convicted of the attacks, which took place from 2019 to 2023, during a four-week trial earlier this year at Inner London Crown Court. Judge Rosina Cottage on Thursday described Zou as a 'very bright young man' who used a manipulative 'charming mask' to hide that he is a 'sexual predator.' Zou was studying for a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at University College London in 2023 when the first woman came forward to allege that he had raped her. As part of the investigation, police seized Zou's phone, on which they found videos of him raping unconscious women. A search of his apartment in south London turned up sedatives and recording equipment. The investigation into Zou's crimes continues, and at least 24 women have come forward with new allegations as a result of the publicity surrounding his trial, London's Metropolitan Police Service said. Taken together, the cases would make him one of the worst sex offenders in U.K. history. Zou, who also used the name Pakho online, befriended fellow students of Chinese heritage on dating apps and WeChat, before inviting them for drinks and drugging them at his apartments in London or an unknown location in China. Using hidden or handheld cameras, Zou filmed nine of the attacks as 'souvenirs,' and he kept a 'trophy box' of his victims' belongings, according to evidence presented at trial. Zou, who claimed the encounters were consensual, was also convicted of three counts of voyeurism, 10 of possessing an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and three of possessing a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offense. He was handed a life sentence and must serve a minimum of 24 years in prison. Prosecutor Saira Pike praised the victims who came forward to report Zou's 'horrific crimes.' 'They have been incredibly strong and brave,' Pike said. 'There is no doubt that their evidence helped us to secure his conviction, and the life sentence handed to him today.'
Saudi Gazette
17 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Chinese student who raped 10 women jailed for 24 years
LONDON — A Chinese PhD student named by police as "one of the most prolific predators" in the UK has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years. Zhenhao Zou, a Chinese national, drugged and raped three women in London and another seven in China between September 2019 and May 2023. Three of the 10 victims have been identified, prosecutors say, but Metropolitan Police detectives fear he could have targeted dozens more and have appealed for potential victims to contact them. Since the trial, 24 women have come forward. During sentencing, Judge Rosina Cottage KC said the defendant was a "very bright young man" who used a manipulative "charming mask" to hide that he was a "sexual predator". At the sentencing hearing at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Cottage told Zou: "You appear to the world to be a very well-to-do man. You are also a sexual predator." She said Zou had "planned and executed a campaign of rape", treating the women "callously" and as "sex toys" for his own pleasure, which had had "devastating and long-term effects".Judge Cottage added Zou had a "sexual interest" in "asserting power and control over women", and that the victims had been "pieces in an elaborate game" for the defendant, who had "no understanding of the meaning of consent". — BBC
