What we know about serial rapist Zhenhao Zou’s life as a University College London student

TW: Rape, drugs

On 5th March 2025, 27-year-old Zhenhao Zou was found guilty of 11 counts of rape against 10 women, 12 counts of possession of extreme pornographic images, one count of false imprisonment and eight of possession of drugs with intent to commit a sexual offence. Three of the rapes took place in London, as he was studying at University College London (UCL). Here’s what we know about Zhenhao Zou’s time as a student at UCL.

Zhenhao Zou studied mechanical engineering 

He studied part his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Queen’s University Belfast from 2017 to 2019. He was an exchange student from the sister university Guangdong University of Technology. Zou then moved to London to do a Master’s and PhD in the same subject at UCL. Zhenhao Zou is no longer a student at UCL.

He lived in very expensive student accommodation

Zou comes from China. His family is reportedly very wealthy. His father works for a “state-owned enterprise”.

In April 2022, Zou was living on Woburn Place, just around the corner from Russell Square and the British Museum. He raped a woman in this flat after taking her to dinner in Chinatown and pressuring her into drinking whisky.

Zhenhao Zou’s kitchen in Elephant and Castle
(Image via the Metropolitan Police)

By May 2023, Zou had moved to a two-bedroom apartment near the top of a tower block in Elephant and Castle. The monthly rent is about cost £4,000.

Most Read

The hardest Russell group unis to get into, based on offer rate – and it’s not just Oxbridge

Now it makes sense! This is why Eliot seemed so uninterested during his MAFS Aus wedding

A ‘petite blonde’ Tim hooked up with before MAFS has spoken out, and it doesn’t look good

One of Zou’s accusers used to study maths with him. She ran into him at a friend’s party in this building, then went back to this flat. He pressured her into drinking wine and vodka. The woman felt uncomfortable and tried to leave, but he dragged her into his bedroom, where he raped her.

Police arrested him in this Elephant and Castle flat in January 2024.

Police found drugs and pornographic videos of the women he raped. He owned several expensive watches, including a green Rolex Submariner watch. More than 70 bottles of alcohol were hidden behind a curtain in the living space.

Zhenhao Zou’s bedroom
(Image via the Metropolitan Police)

He kept condoms in a Louis Vuitton box. Zou also had a “trophy box” in his wardrobe filled with “souvenirs” from the women he assaulted – a black dress, earrings, hairbands and a key.

Zou kept earrings of the women he assaulted
(Image via the Metropolitan Police)

People viewed him as ‘charming’

During the trial, the prosecutor Catherine Farrelly said: “To the outside world, he undoubtedly presents as a smart and charming young man. However, as you know from the indictment in this case which contains 35 allegations against him, the prosecution says that he is also a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist.”

He spoke in the trial about all the cosmetic work he had done

Zou explained to the court that he underwent several cosmetic procedures in China and in London. He had hair transplants, eyelid surgery, teeth adjustments and “fat fillings” in his chin. Zou also said he wore make-up “all the time” because he “looked better”.

Zou used to go to London nightclubs

He said during the trial that he started taking cocaine, GHB and ketamine at clubs in London. Zou drugged several women so they were unconscious when he raped them. His defence in court for owning several of these substances was that he was going to use them himself during nights out. He said: “I intended to take it at nightclubs to get high. t’s much cheaper [to buy drugs online], the stuff sold in nightclubs was much more expensive.”

The university released a statement saying they’re ‘appalled’ 

The main University College London library

UCL put out a statement after Zhenhao Zou was found guilty.

The President of UCL, Dr Michael Spence, said: “We have been appalled by these horrific offences. Our thoughts are with the survivors and we wish to pay tribute to the bravery of the women who reported these crimes and gave evidence at the trial.

“The prevalence of sexual harassment, violence and abuse in society is extremely alarming and causes immense harm to victims, their families and wider communities.

“This case is particularly distressing and our focus is providing support for our students, alumni and staff through a range of services.”

UCL students and alumni who are affected by this case can reach out to the uni for support here.

For more news about UK universities, like The Tab on Facebook. 

Featured images of Zhenhao Zou and his flat via the Metropolitan Police. Featured image of the UCL engineering department by Shadowssettle via Creative Commons License.