"I Didn’t Feel Able to Come Forward": Chinese Women Speak Out About Serial Rapist Zhenhao Zou

• Apr 2, 2025

More survivors of convicted serial rapist Zhenhao Zou are now speaking out, with 23 additional women recently contacting police with new allegations. Zou, a Chinese PhD student, was found guilty in London last month of drugging and raping 10 women across two continents.

Warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual violence.

Police say that during the investigation, they discovered video evidence—recorded by Zou himself—suggesting he may have assaulted as many as 50 women. Officers are still working to identify these victims and now believe the number of women he targeted could be significantly higher.

Two women who recently reported new allegations to police have also spoken to the BBC. One alleges that Zou raped her in his Chinese hometown after drugging her, leaving her conscious but unable to move. The other said she was drugged in London and woke up to find Zou filming himself as he assaulted her.

Two women who testified in court have also shared their stories. One expressed deep regret: “If I had spoken up earlier, maybe there wouldn’t have been so many victims after me.” Both say they struggle with the guilt of knowing Zou continued to abuse women after them.

“Alice”: One of the Newly Emerged Victims

"Alice" (not her real name) told the BBC that Zou assaulted her in London in 2021. She only reported it after hearing about his conviction in the news.

She first met Zou through mutual friends in the Chinese student community and was later invited to his student accommodation in Bloomsbury. There, she shared drinks with a friend from a half-empty bottle, while Zou drank only from a separate one.

Alice and her friend became unusually intoxicated very quickly. Zou then insisted Alice stay the night for her own safety. She agreed, believing her friend was also in the apartment. She recalls waking up to find Zou removing her trousers—and noticed a mobile phone light above her, indicating he was filming.

When she tried to leave, Zou allegedly pulled her back into the room forcefully. Only after she threatened to scream did he let her go. The next day, Zou messaged her casually, without mentioning what had happened. Alice never responded.

“I didn’t know that was something you could report,” she said. “I thought you needed solid evidence, or that something more serious had to happen.”

Challenges Faced by Foreign Victims in the UK

Reporting sexual violence can be particularly difficult for foreign nationals. Sarah Yeh from the Southeast and East Asian Women’s Association said it’s daunting for survivors unfamiliar with the UK legal and healthcare systems. Many also fear cultural shame, legal consequences, or harm to their academic futures.

Alice later learned a male friend of hers also knew Zou—and had cut ties with him after learning about his behavior. The friend, known as "Jie," says he accidentally drank a spiked drink at a party and that Zou admitted it was meant for a woman. Jie claims Zou even tried to recruit him to help drug women. Though he never went to the police, Jie says he warned others and eventually distanced himself completely.

"Rachel": Another Survivor Speaks from China

Another woman, “Rachel,” told the BBC that Zou raped her in 2022 in his hometown of Dongguan, China. She had met him online and agreed to what she thought would be a date at a bar, but ended up at his villa. She says he prepared a green-colored drink for her, and after a drinking game, she lost control of her body.

She says she considered reporting him but feared the cultural stigma and difficulty of proving a lack of consent. Now, having filed a statement with UK police, she hopes her story encourages others to speak out—and wants Zou prosecuted in China as well.

How the Investigation Is Expanding

Commander Kevin Southworth from the Metropolitan Police confirmed they are now reviewing 23 new cases, many of which do not match the victims identified in Zou’s recordings. He acknowledged that the scale of Zou’s crimes appears “far greater” than initially understood.

A second trial may be considered, depending on how these new investigations unfold.

Beth and Clara: The Two Known Victims Who Helped Secure Zou’s Conviction

“Beth” and “Clara” are the two women whose reports directly led to Zou’s conviction. Beth was raped in 2023 and initially tried to report it, but gave up after feeling dismissed by police. A poor translation of her emergency call added to her frustration. Not knowing Zou’s full identity at the time, she instead shared a warning online.

Clara, who had been raped by Zou two years earlier, recognized him from Beth’s description—including his Guangdong accent, his demeanor, and his Rolex Submariner watch.

The two women connected online, and Clara was encouraged to speak to police. Police later found a video of Beth on Zou’s seized devices and reopened her case. Beth has since testified in court and now feels empowered by helping to hold Zou accountable.

“I thought I wasn’t an important part of the case,” she said. “Now I know I was.”

Clara was able to give her testimony remotely from China, supported by officers who flew out to assist her. The Met praised the cooperation of Chinese authorities and is urging other victims—wherever they are—to come forward.

Zou had also studied in Belfast between 2017 and 2019, and authorities are now looking into whether his crimes extended to that period as well.

Support and Hope for Justice

Despite the horrors, survivors like Alice, Rachel, Beth, and Clara hope that by sharing their stories, more women will find the courage to speak up. Police say additional training is being provided to officers to better handle such sensitive cases and ensure that victims feel heard and supported.