More women are coming forward with allegations against Zhenhao Zou, a Chinese PhD student convicted in London last month of drugging and raping 10 women across multiple countries.
Since the trial, 23 more women have contacted police with accusations, and authorities now believe the number of his victims could be much higher. Officers say they have video evidence—filmed by Zou himself—of potentially 50 more victims and are working to identify them.
Among those now speaking out are two women who recently contacted police and also shared their stories with the BBC World Service. One woman said Zou raped her in his hometown in China after spiking her drink, leaving her conscious but unable to move or speak. Another said he drugged her in London, and she woke up to find him filming himself assaulting her.
Survivors Speak Out
Two women whose testimonies helped convict Zou have also spoken about their experiences. One of them shared feelings of regret, saying, “If I had spoken up earlier, maybe there wouldn’t have been so many victims after me.”
Alice, one of the women making new allegations, said Zou assaulted her in London in 2021. She only felt able to report it after his recent trial. As a Chinese student living in the UK at the time, she wasn’t sure if what had happened to her could be reported.
She first met Zou while out clubbing with other Chinese students. A few days later, a mutual friend invited her for drinks at Zou’s student accommodation in Bloomsbury. Alice remembers there were two bottles of alcohol on the table—both already half-empty. She and her friend drank from one bottle, while Zou drank only from the other.
Her friend, who usually had a high alcohol tolerance, became heavily intoxicated almost immediately and passed out on the floor. Alice soon felt extremely dizzy and sleepy, a reaction she describes as unusual. Zou convinced her to rest in his bedroom, telling her it wouldn’t be safe to take a taxi home in that state.
The next thing she remembers is waking up to Zou removing her trousers.
“I stopped him right away,” she recalled. She also noticed the light from a mobile phone above her head and realized, to her horror, that he was filming her.
When she tried to leave, Zou forcibly pulled her back into the room. “I had to cling to the door frame with both hands,” she said. It was only when she threatened to scream that he finally let go, warning her not to “make a big deal” out of it or go to the police.
The next day, Zou messaged her on WeChat, acting as if nothing had happened. Alice confided in close friends but did not report the incident, believing she lacked evidence and that what happened might not be enough for police to take action.
Years later, she was shocked to see his face in the news when he was arrested.
The Challenges of Reporting Sexual Assault
For foreign nationals, reporting sexual crimes in the UK can be overwhelming. Sarah Yeh, a trustee at the Southeast and East Asian Women’s Association, explained that victims may not understand their rights, available resources, or how to navigate the British legal system. They may also fear the social stigma, how their families might react, or the impact on their studies and visas.
Alice later discovered that one of her male friends, Jie, also knew Zou—but had cut ties with him after realizing he was spiking women’s drinks. Jie recounted an incident at a party in 2022 where he accidentally drank from someone else’s glass and suddenly became unwell. Zou admitted to drugging the drink, saying it was intended for a woman.
Jie also claimed Zou once showed him a bag of drugs and asked if he wanted to “collaborate” in targeting women, an offer he refused. While he warned friends to stay away from Zou, he never reported him to authorities, believing the women’s testimonies would be enough to secure a conviction.
Allegations Beyond the UK
Rachel, another woman who has come forward, says Zou raped her in 2022 in his hometown of Dongguan, China. She met him online and agreed to go on a date, expecting to visit a bar. Instead, he took her to his home—a large villa he claimed was one of his family’s properties.
He prepared her a green cocktail with his back turned, and soon after drinking it, she felt dizzy and unable to move. She remembers him taking her upstairs, where she became completely incapacitated before he raped her.
The next day, she considered reporting the assault but decided against it, fearing it would be difficult to prove. “It’s hard to prove that agreeing to go to his house for drinks wasn’t consent for sex,” she said. She also worried about her family and community finding out.
Rachel has now given a statement to UK police and hopes to see Zou prosecuted in China as well.
The Police Investigation Continues
The Metropolitan Police continue to investigate the additional cases. Commander Kevin Southworth, head of public protection, said new reports indicate that Zou’s crimes are even more widespread than originally believed.
With so many new victims coming forward, a second trial has not been ruled out.
The Fight for Justice
Two women who played a key role in Zou’s conviction—Beth and Clara—shared how they connected through social media.
Beth had tried to report her assault in 2023 but felt discouraged after her initial interaction with police, partly due to translation issues. Frustrated, she posted a warning online. Clara, who had been drugged and raped by Zou two years earlier, immediately recognized him from the details Beth shared.
Months later, police found videos of Beth on Zou’s devices, confirming her case. Clara gave evidence remotely from China, supported by both UK and Chinese authorities.
The Met Police have since admitted mishandling Beth’s case initially and say they are improving training for frontline officers to ensure victims are taken seriously.
Beth, who testified in person, now feels proud that she spoke up. “For a long time, I thought I wasn’t important in the case against Zou,” she said. Now, she’s urging other survivors to come forward.