A convicted serial rapist in the UK, identified as Zhenhao Zou, may face additional charges following fresh allegations from seven more women. Zou, a Chinese national, is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years for drugging and raping 10 women in London and China between September 2019 and May 2023.
Police believe Zou may have committed further crimes and appealed for more potential victims to come forward. The Metropolitan Police has submitted a file detailing the new allegations to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which will determine whether to pursue further charges. The file includes evidence of alleged sexual offenses, including rape and administering a substance with the intent to commit a sexual offense. These allegations stem from reports made by five women who contacted the police after the appeal, as well as two unidentified women.
Of the 23 women who contacted police following the appeal, most chose not to pursue criminal charges. The Metropolitan Police are also conducting separate inquiries into allegations of assaults that allegedly occurred in China, with officers working to obtain evidence from Chinese authorities.
Zou was convicted of 10 counts of rape, with prosecutors describing him as one of the UK's most prolific predators. The initial investigation focused on crimes committed in London between September 2019 and May 2023, leading to his conviction and sentencing in November 2023. The current review by the CPS could lead to an expansion of the charges against him, pending their decision.