ONE of Britain’s most prolific rapists has been convicted of drugging and filming ten victims – as cops fear he could have actually targeted 50 more women.
Zhenhao Zou “stupefied” his victims using vast amounts of alcohol or drugs to fulfil his depraved sexual fantasies.
The 27-year-old would then carry out horrific sex attacks, which he filmed to keep as “souvenirs” that he could watch back for his “own private sexual gratification”.
Zou was today found guilty of raping ten women between 2019 and 2023 in the UK and China.
But the Met Police believe he could have at least 60 victims that are yet to be identified.
The force said Zou is “the most substantial and prolific offender that we’ve come across in recent times”.
Detectives examined 1,270 separate videos along with nine million messages recovered from his devices to reveal at least 50 more victims.
They – along with eight of the ten women Zou was today convicted of raping – have not been identified by police.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard McKenzie said: “To date we have not been able to make a public appeal for further victims – with your help we are now asking anyone who thinks they have been a victim to come forward and speak to the police.
“Our message to potential victims is to please come forward and speak to us.
“We can offer support and signpost to external support so each victim can get the support they want and need.”
Police released an image of jewellery and clothing that Zou kept as twisted souvenirs in a bid to track down potential victims.
Commander Kevin Southworth, head of public protection at the Met, said: “It may go beyond that once we have the appeal out there, take it only as indicative at this point.
“The calculating predatory nature of what he’s been charged with, it’s fairly unprecedented.
“It’s certainly not something I’ve seen in my 28 years of policing.”
During his trial, jurors were told Zou first came to UK in 2017 to study engineering at Queen’s University in Belfast.
In 2019, he began a master’s degree at University College London before beginning a PhD there in 2021.
The court heard between 2019 and 2023, he raped two of the women in London, while the other eight were at unknown locations in China.
Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly, KC, said previously: “To the outside world, Zhenhao Zou undoubtedly presents as a smart and charming young man.
“However, as you know from the indictment in this case which contains 35 allegations against him, the prosecution says that he is also a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist.”
The case was based on videos found on his mobile phone and two cameras also seized from his home.
One of the recordings showed Zou stood over a woman, who appeared “upset”.
He could be heard encouraging her to finish her drink as she begged to go home.
Zou claimed some of the women were “role playing” and all consented to any footage that was taken of them.
In his evidence, the fiend gave a chilling insight into his warped fantasies and revealed his “favourite” type of porn involved sleeping women.
He said he preferred it when the women “appear to be still and quiet when they are having sex”.
When asked by his lawyer Mark Cotter KC if he liked women being asleep, he continued: “Yes, that’s my favourite type. But I could not find that.”
Zou told jurors he instead watched “specialist timestop” pornography.
Haunting videos recovered by police showed victims being raped while they were unconscious or semi-conscious and slurring their words.
In one, the woman appeared to have bruising to her eye, cheek bone and above the eye brow.
Another victim, who was drugged but conscious, cried out “I don’t want” as she was attacked by Zou.
His depraved crimes came to light in November 2023 when one brave woman – a Chinese national – reported him to the police.
She told how she was dragged into a bedroom by Zou, who made her drink vodka laced with drugs before he raped her.
Officers raided Zou’s flat in London and found a variety of date rape drugs including Ketamine, Xanax and MDMA.
They also discovered multiple 500ml bottles of Butanediol, which is made into well-known date-rape drug GHB by the body when swallowed.
Police recovered his devices, which uncovered an “unprecedented” wealth of material for them to investigate.
They found Zou was “constantly” engaged in conversations on social media sites like WeChat and Little Red Book, which led to more than nine million messages being uncovered.
Officers will now use those sites to get their appeal for further victims across.
Zou denied 35 charges against him – including 11 charges of rape, 12 of possession of an extreme pornographic images and three counts of voyeurism.
He was also charged with one of false imprisonment and eight counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.
The predator has been remanded into custody ahead of sentencing.
