Monster behind mask: Serial rapist jailed for life after drugging, attacking 10 women

A man who drugged, raped, and filmed at least 10 women in one of the most complex sex crime investigations ever undertaken by the Metropolitan Police has been sentenced to life in prison.

Zhenhao Zou, 28, of Churchyard Row, Elephant and Castle, was convicted in March 2025 of 28 serious offences, including rape, voyeurism, false imprisonment, and possession of extreme pornographic images.

He was sentenced on Thursday, 19 June, at Inner London Crown Court to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years.

The sentencing marked a significant milestone in a case that exposed Zou as a calculated predator who operated across two countries, targeting women primarily of Chinese heritage in both the UK and China.

During the hearing, the presiding judge commended Met detectives DC Jack Woods and DC Oliver Colville for their relentless pursuit of justice.

The judge also acknowledged the wider prosecution team’s efforts in securing a conviction in a case described as harrowing and unprecedented in scale.

Zou, who studied at University College London from 2019 and earlier at Queen’s University Belfast, used social media and dating platforms to lure victims to his accommodation.

Under the guise of social or academic meetings, he spiked their drinks with sedatives before sexually assaulting them—filming the abuse as they lay unconscious.

Met detectives were forced to sift through hundreds of explicit video clips, amassing a disturbing digital archive of Zou’s crimes.

The case required analysis of over 6.5 terabytes of data, including nine million messages—translated from Simplified Chinese—making it one of the largest cases the Met’s digital forensics lab has handled.

The sheer volume of evidence included more than 4,000 documents and helped build an overwhelming case against Zou, despite the inability to identify all victims captured in his videos.

Commander Kevin Southworth of the Met said: “Our thoughts remain with the courageous women who endured unimaginable trauma. Thanks to the tireless work of our officers and the Crown Prosecution Service, Zou is no longer free to prey on others. We are still appealing for any additional survivors to come forward. You will be treated with dignity, care, and respect.”

Due to the sensitivity of the case, police held off on a public appeal for more victims until after the trial to avoid jeopardising proceedings.

Following Zou’s conviction in March 2025, a public appeal led to 24 more women contacting police with allegations. These are now being investigated by a dedicated team.

Investigators believe the true scale of Zou’s offending is significantly wider than the 11 rapes for which he was convicted. They are particularly seeking to speak with women of Chinese heritage who may have encountered Zou in London between 2019 and 2024, or in China during his visits.

While no victims from his time in Belfast have come forward, officers remain in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and urge anyone with concerns to reach out.