In brief
Zhenhao Zou, a convicted rapist sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, faces renewed scrutiny as details emerge from two women who reported being drugged and raped within a day of each other. Metropolitan Police initially suspected the attacks were committed by the same person due to their similarities, highlighting the alarming frequency of Zou's offenses, which include multiple rapes across countries. As additional survivors come forward, concerns grow over the extent of his predatory behavior.
Two women who reported being drugged and raped by prolific sex offender Zhenhao Zou said they were attacked within 24 hours of each other, the BBC has established.The first woman who says she was raped told us she was shocked to learn about the second attack and had since felt guilt for not reporting her rape sooner.Metropolitan Police detectives investigating Zou's offences initially questioned whether the two women might be the same person, because the two attacks sounded identical and happened in such a short space of time.This timing showed Zou was confident, a source familiar with the investigation told the BBC World Service. He was getting away with it, so he wanted to do it more and more, they said.Zou was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 24 years, in June. The Chinese national was convicted for drugging and raping 10 women - three in the UK and seven in China - between September 2019 and May 2023. All victims appear to have been Chinese.But after his trial, detectives - having described Zou as one of the UK's most prolific predators - said they feared he may have attacked 50 more women. Since Zou's trial, 24 women have come forward in both the UK and China, including the victims of these two attacks.The first woman, who we are calling Rachel, says she met Zou for drinks in late October 2022. He drove her to his waterside villa in Zhupingsha village, where he gave her a whisky cocktail that left her so dizzy she could barely move. After she lay down, she claims he raped her.Zou did not return Rachel's phone until the following afternoon. In a series of frantic WeChat messages, Rachel told her friend she was still in Zou's house and asked why she hadn't been able to come and get her. Her friend had heard Rachel crying out, but Zou would not give his address.Rachel decided not to report the incident to police, fearing she lacked sufficient evidence. Meanwhile, Zou had been researching sleeping drugs before his attacks, showing his premeditation. The second victim, identified only as Female D, was attacked shortly after Rachel. She contacted UK authorities after Zou's conviction.Det Ch Insp Tariq Farooqi stated the scale of Zou's offenses makes him one of the most dangerous sexual offenders brought to justice by the Metropolitan Police. As more women begin to come forward, the investigation continues, with the potential for further charges pending.
