New Delhi: Chinese PhD student Zhenhao Zhou, recently convicted in London, stunned the world with his ghastly acts. He tricked women into believing and trust, drugged them to subdue them, and then brutally assaulted them. What began as a case of 10 victims has now expanded to more than that, with the police finding clues that indicate more than 50 women were targeted. His offenses went all the way to China, with a chain of quiet victims along the way.
Two women told their harrowing stories to BBC World Service. One described how Zhou drugged and raped her in her native China. Another told how she woke up in London, trapped and violated, only to discover he had taped the rape. The stories explain the predator’s methodical approaches. Astoundingly, numerous victims did not report him. One victim, who was attacked in London in 2021, reported that she didn’t even know that she could report the incident. Another individual informed the BBC that Zhou boasted about drink spiking during parties and even attempted to coerce them into the crime.
Commander Kevin Southworth, of the Metropolitan Police, discovered gruesome videos taken by Zhou himself. The videos reveal women, incapacitated and powerless, being abused. The evidence suggests a far greater number of victims than originally estimated—perhaps more than 50. Following his conviction for 10 rapes, 23 other women came forward, and the police believe there may be even more cases to be revealed. London authorities are now collaborating with Chinese officials to investigate further into Zhou’s activities.
This case uncovers a predator who worked across continents, taking advantage of trust and silence. As investigations are ongoing, the full scope of Zhou’s crimes could soon be revealed, delivering justice to those who were harmed in the dark.