Two women who reported being drugged and raped by prolific sex offender Zhenhao Zou said they were attacked within 24 hours of each other, according to a BBC investigation.
The first woman, whom we are calling Rachel, expressed shock upon discovering the second assault and has since felt guilt for not reporting her own rape sooner. Metropolitan Police detectives initially questioned whether the two women might be the same person due to the identical nature of the attacks.
Insiders familiar with the investigation indicated that Zou's escalating confidence was evident in the timing and method of his crimes, stating, He was getting away with it, so he wanted to do it more and more.
Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual violence.
Zou, who was sentenced to life in prison in June, has been convicted of drugging and raping ten women across the UK and China between 2019 and 2023, all of whom were Chinese nationals. Following his trial, authorities voiced concerns that he may have attacked as many as 50 more victims.
As investigations unfold, a growing number of women have come forward to share their experiences, revealing a disturbing pattern of abuse.
Rachel recounted a particularly harrowing evening in October 2022 when she met Zou for drinks. He drove her to a secluded villa and introduced her to a cocktail that left her incapacitated, leading to her assault. The following day, Zou returned her phone only after she attempted to contact a friend for help.
Contrary to her fears of invalidating her experience, Rachel ultimately decided to report the assault to the police in March 2025.
Adding to the complexity, the second victim, referred to as Female D, became acquainted with Zou only hours after Rachel was dropped off. Zou drugged and assaulted her as well, using footage from his devices as evidence for his trial.
The perplexing nature of their shared experiences raises significant questions about police response and the importance of victim testimony in the fight against sexual violence.
