"One of the Worst Sex Offenders in UK History": Chinese Man in His 20s Gets Life Sentence for Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assaults in Two Countries

Convicted of 28 Offenses Including Rape of 10 Women
More Victims May Still Be Unidentified
UK Court Sentences to Life Imprisonment with Minimum Term of 24 Years

A Chinese graduate student in his 20s, accused of drugging and sexually assaulting at least 10 women in both the UK and China, has been sentenced by a UK court to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years.

Zhou Jenhao, a 28-year-old Chinese international student residing in the UK, was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting 10 women. Photo by London Metropolitan Police Service

According to The Guardian on June 19 (local time), the Inner London Crown Court sentenced Zhou Jenhao, a 28-year-old Chinese national and graduate student, to life imprisonment with a minimum of 24 years to be served. He was convicted of raping three women in London and seven women in China, with a total of 28 charges upheld. In addition to 11 counts of rape, the charges included illegal filming, possession of extreme pornography, and drug-facilitated sexual offenses. After deducting the time already served in prison, Zhou will not be eligible for parole until after 2048.

Between 2019 and 2024, Zhou is accused of inviting women he met online or through dating applications in the UK and China to his home under the pretense of studying or social drinking, drugging and sexually assaulting them, and filming the assaults.

UK police believe there may be more than 50 victims based on the videos he recorded. More than 20 additional women have already come forward, and a significant number of victims have yet to be identified.

Judge Rosina Cottage stated, "You are an extremely intelligent and cunning individual who showed no regard for the emotions or will of these women," adding, "You treated the victims as mere pawns in your own elaborate game." She further noted, "You have consistently sought power and control over women," and declared, "You pose a significant danger to society."

Detective Richard Mackenzie, who led the investigation, said, "The scale of his crimes, spanning both the UK and China, is among the most shocking cases we have ever seen," and described Zhou as "one of the worst sex offenders on record."

Following the verdict, an international investigation was requested, and 24 additional victims have since come forward. Police have urged all women in the UK and China who believe they may have been victimized by Zhou to report to authorities.

Zhou came to the UK in 2017 to study at Queen's University Belfast, and after completing his master's degree at University College London (UCL) in 2019, he was pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering at the time of his arrest in 2024.

The London police launched an investigation after receiving a report from one of the victims and discovered drugs and hidden cameras at his residence. According to police, the cameras contained 1,664 hours of footage, including 58 instances of sexual assault.

According to Sky News, the jury in this case watched the evidentiary videos during the trial and, due to the psychological trauma caused by the disturbing scenes, have been excused from jury duty for the next 20 years.