Life sentence for Zhenhao Zou, the ‘polite’ Chinese student whose monstrous double life shook elite universities

A shocking scandal has erupted within one of London’s elite universities after a Chinese PhD student was exposed as a sadistic serial rapist. Zhenhao Zou, 28, meticulously targeted women across London and China, drugging and attacking them in a calculated campaign of terror. The court heard how this well-dressed student with a designer wardrobe, a Rolex watch, and cosmetic surgeries masked a brutal reality, living a double life that has left survivors grappling with trauma.

Zou, a doctoral candidate at University College London (UCL), used dating apps and social platforms like WeChat to lure women from the Chinese student community to his expensive London flats. Under the guise of socialising, he would lace their drinks with potent sedatives, recording nine of the assaults on video while his victims lay unconscious. The sheer depravity of his crimes shook even veteran detectives. A “trophy box” discovered at one of Zou’s properties contained intimate belongings from women he had raped.

Although three victims have been identified so far, the Metropolitan Police fear the actual number may be much higher. Since the conviction, more than two dozen women have come forward, suggesting a long trail of exploitation. “I have lost faith in human beings. I have no trust in others,” one victim told the court through tears. Another said, “Words can never fully convey the depth of this wound – his face, his expression, will never leave me.”

Throughout the trial, Zou exhibited no remorse, treating proceedings with cold detachment. Judge Rosina Cottage branded him a “sexual predator” and condemned him for treating women as “sex toys” and “pieces in an elaborate game.” The court handed him a life sentence, stipulating he must serve a minimum of 24 years behind bars.

Zou’s academic background added another disturbing layer to the case. After studying in Belfast, he relocated to London to pursue postgraduate studies at UCL. To many, he appeared a diligent and ambitious scholar. Yet, behind this facade, he was committing a spree of calculated, degrading assaults. The case has ignited wider questions about the vulnerability of students within elite academic environments, especially those far from home.

Police have urged any woman who suspects she may have been targeted by Zou to come forward. “We will listen, we will support, and we will treat every survivor with empathy and respect,” said a senior Met Police official.

For victims and their families, the damage goes far beyond the walls of the courtroom. As one survivor stated, “The wounds he caused will never truly heal.” The tragedy shines a harsh light on the hidden dangers lurking within elite institutions and serves as a call to remain vigilant, ensuring that no predator can manipulate their status or surroundings to destroy others’ lives.

As Zou begins his life sentence, countless questions linger. How did such a calculated monster operate for so long under the guise of an academic? How can institutions better protect their students? The scars left by this case will remain for years, a grim reminder that evil can wear many masks.