WEBDESK - NAYADAUR - Imran Malik
A convicted serial rapist described by British police as one of the country’s most prolific sexual predators could face further charges after allegations involving seven additional women were referred to prosecutors.
Chinese national Zhenhao Zou is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years after being convicted of drugging and raping 10 women in London and China between September 2019 and May 2023.
Following his conviction, the Metropolitan Police appealed for other potential victims to come forward, saying investigators believed Zou may have committed further offenses.
The force has now submitted a file containing evidence relating to fresh allegations to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will determine whether additional charges should be brought.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the evidence concerns several alleged sexual offenses, including rape and administering a substance with the intention of committing a sexual offense.
The allegations relate to reports made by five women who contacted police following the public appeal, as well as the alleged rape of two women whose identities remain unknown, the force said.
A total of 23 women contacted detectives after the appeal. However, most did not wish to pursue criminal charges, according to police.
The new evidence is being reviewed by prosecutors as detectives continue to investigate whether Zou was responsible for other offenses beyond those for which he has already been convicted.
Police also said separate inquiries remain underway into allegations involving women who were allegedly assaulted by Zou in China. British officers are working to obtain evidence from Chinese authorities as part of those investigations.
Zou committed many of the offenses for which he was convicted while living at different addresses in London, where he was studying for a PhD. Other offenses took place in China.
His convictions include 10 counts of rape, three counts of voyeurism, 10 counts of possessing an extreme pornographic image, one count of false imprisonment and three counts of possessing a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offense.
Police said Zou had filmed many of his assaults, with most of the women shown in the recordings unable to be identified.
Following their investigation, detectives estimated there could be as many as 50 further victims and described Zou as “one of the most prolific sexual predators” they had encountered in the United Kingdom.
The Metropolitan Police said detectives would continue working with the Crown Prosecution Service while prosecutors assess the newly submitted evidence.
The force also said it remained committed to supporting potential victim-survivors and pursuing justice on their behalf.
Any decision to bring additional charges will rest with prosecutors after an assessment of the available evidence. Until then, the new allegations remain allegations and have not resulted in further convictions.