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Note: The following article contains disturbing details and video sequences. Please read at your discretion.
A British judge condemned the Chinese doctoral student Zhenhao Zou for life with a minimum of 24 years in prison to drug and violate 10 women England And China.
Zou, 28, was found guilty of the attacks, which took place between 2019 and 2023, during a four -week trial this year at the Inner London Crown Court.
Judge Rosina Cottage described Zou Thursday as a “very brilliant young man” who used a manipulative “charming mask” to hide that he is a “sexual predator”. Cottage told Zou that he would serve 22 years and 227 days before he was eligible for parole, According to the London Metropolitan Police Service.
A jury found him guilty of 28 offenses in total, notably chiefs of voyeurism, the possession of an extreme pornographic image, the possession of a drug to commit sexual offense and false imprisonment.
“The long sentence reflects justice for women who are survivors of Zou and who testify to the extraordinary lengths taken by the investigators, who have left no stone not returned to their quest to withdraw a dangerous sexual predator from the street,” said the metropolitan police service in a statement.
Zou, who said that the meetings were consensual, studied for a doctorate in mechanical engineering at the University College of London in 2023 when the first woman presented herself to allege that he had raped her.
As part of the investigation, police seized Zou’s phone, on which they found videos of violating him unconscious women. A search of his apartment in southern London revealed sedatives and recording equipment.
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Investigators watched hundreds of videos when they built the evidence against Zou, which led to the conclusion that he had not only committed offenses in London but also in China, according to the police.
Police are still investigating Zou’s crimes and at least 24 women presented new allegations following advertising surrounding his trial.
Zou, who also used the name of Pakho online, became friends with other Chinese heritage students on dating and WeChat applications, before inviting them to drinks and drugs them in its apartments in London or an unknown location in China.
According to evidence presented at the trial, Zou filmed nine attacks such as “memories” using hidden or portable cameras and has kept a “trophy box” of the personal effects of his victims.
Prosecutor Saira Pike congratulated the victims who showed up to report Zou’s “horrible crimes”.
“They were incredibly strong and courageous,” said Pike. “There is no doubt that their proofs helped us get his conviction, and the perpetuity sentence was imposed on him today.”
Pike described Zou as a “serial rapist” and “a danger to women”.
“We have always been determined to ask for justice both for unidentified victims and identified in this case. We used an approach focused on the evidence that was based on Zou’s video recordings to guarantee that this dangerous predator was confronted with justice,” added Pike.
“The prosecution team worked with the police for more than a year to separate an unprecedented quantity of sequences and cats on the web showing its meticulous planning and the horrible execution of its crimes,” she said.
Commander of the Metropolitan Police Service Kevin Southworth said his thoughts “have always been with the courageous survivors victims of the heinous and predators of Zou”.
“Thanks to the remarkable efforts of our officers and prosecutors, a dangerous and cowardly offender was sentenced to life. I hope that the fact that Zou can no longer harm others is used for women who have suffered immeasurably, “added Southworth.
He said he wanted to “emphasize that our investigation remains open” and that the police continue to “call on anyone who may think they were victims of Zou”.
“Please introduce yourself and talk with our team – we will deal with empathy, kindness and respect,” added Southworth.
Police encourages anyone with information on potential crimes relating to Zou to report it online Or contact the police by phone or email.
–With files from the Associated Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, A Division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
