Chinese PhD student Zhenhao Zou, 29, who was convicted of 28 offenses including 11 counts of rape against 10 women in London and China, may face new charges after five more women came forward to allege further sexual offending. The Metropolitan Police have sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for consideration of additional charges, which include allegations of rape and administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offense. Zou is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years. The police are also continuing to investigate separate allegations involving women in China through formal international legal processes.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
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Story summary
Zhenhao Zou, a 29-year-old Chinese national, is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years in the UK for drugging and raping 10 women between September 2019 and May 2023. He was also convicted of other offenses, including voyeurism and false imprisonment. After an appeal by police, 7 new women came forward to report allegations of further sexual crimes against Zou. A file containing evidence of these allegations has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which will decide whether to bring additional charges. The Metropolitan Police received a total of 23 reports, but most of the women did not want to pursue criminal charges. If new charges are brought, it would be in addition to Zou's existing convictions for 28 offenses.
Written for “Rapist Faced with New Charges” on 2026-09-07,
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Leaning score +0.15 for article 6637 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-07
A Chinese rapist jailed for life is facing possible further charges, police said.
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police → jail → charges
PhD student Zhenhao Zou, 29, has already been convicted of 28 offences, including 11 counts of rape against 10 women, three counts of voyeurism and one count of false imprisonment after he targeted women in London and China.
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he → convict → London
He is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years before he can be considered for release after being convicted last year.
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he → serve → release
But the Metropolitan Police have now sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider further charges after five women came forward to allege further sexual offending following an appeal by detectives.
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women → send → detectives
It will now be up to the CPS to consider whether Zou is charged with new offences.
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Zou → consider → offences
Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Craggs, whose team are leading the investigation, said: 'I would like to thank the women who have come forward and spoken to our officers since our appeal.
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who → lead → appeal
'We recognise how difficult it can be to report offences of this nature and every woman who has contacted us has shown considerable courage.
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who → recognise → courage
The submission of this file of evidence marks a significant step in our investigation.
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submission → mark → investigation
Zhenhao Zao, originally from China but in the UK since 2017, is currently serving a life sentence for drugging and raping multiple women
Met detectives have now passed a file of evidence to the CPS to consider further charges after further women came forward
'
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women → serve → charges
While we await a decision from the CPS in relation to allegations concerning women in the UK, our enquiries remain ongoing.
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enquiries → await → UK
We remain committed to supporting victim-survivors and pursuing all available lines of enquiry.
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We → remain → enquiry
I would encourage anyone who believes they may have been affected, or anyone with information that could assist our investigation, to contact us.
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that → encourage → us
Every report will be treated seriously, handled with care and sensitivity, and investigated thoroughly by specially trained officers.'
The file submitted to the CPS contains evidence relating to several alleged offences, including rape and administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offence, Scotland Yard said.
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Yard → treat → offence
Separate enquiries remain ongoing into allegations involving women who were allegedly sexually assaulted in China.
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who → remain → China
Detectives continue to pursue all available lines of enquiry and are working to obtain evidence through formal international legal processes, the Met said.
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Met → continue → processes
Zou's four-week trial at Inner London Crown Court last year heard how the predator was a serial rapist who relied on drugs to incapacitate his victims before carrying out his attacks.
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who → hear → attacks
Zou used social media platforms and dating websites to target the women, often fellow students from London, and then arrange to meet up with them.
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Zou → use → them
The jury at the Inner London Crown Court heard how Zou would secretly film his attacks using a mobile device and hidden cameras.
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Zou → hear → device
Jurors were then shown evidence found on SD cards at Zou's accommodation which showed him raping unconscious women in London and in China.
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him → show → China
Zou came to the UK to study in Belfast in 2017, and later attended UCL where he was studying for a PhD.
Sentencing Zou last year, Her Honour Judge Rosina Cottage KC described how the sex fiend used his 'charm' as a mask to disguise his criminal behaviour.
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fiend → come → behaviour
She said: 'You sought power over them (victims) and wielded it without any thought of their wishes, their feelings.
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You → say → wishes
'These women you treated callously as sex toys for your pleasure.'
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you → treat → pleasure
