Rapist serving life may face more assault charges
Zhenhao Zou was convicted of raping 10 women but he is thought to have committed further crimes.
Rapist serving life may face more assault charges
Zhenhao Zou was jailed for at least 24 years for drugging and raping 10 women
A convicted serial rapist, described by police as "one of the most prolific predators" in the UK, could face additional charges after new allegations involving seven more women were passed to prosecutors.
Chinese national Zhenhao Zou is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years after being found guilty of drugging and raping 10 women in London and China between September 2019 and May 2023.
Believing Zou may have committed further offences, police appealed for more potential victim-survivors to come forward.
The Metropolitan Police has sent a file of the new sexual offence allegations to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which will decide whether to bring further charges.
According to the Met Police, the file includes evidence relating to several alleged offences, including rape and administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offence.
It concerns reports made by five women who contacted police after the appeal, as well as the alleged rape of two women who remain unidentified, the force said.
A total of 23 women contacted police after the appeal, but most did not want to pursue criminal charges, the force added.
The Met said separate investigations were continuing into allegations involving women who were allegedly assaulted by Zou in China, with officers working to secure evidence from the Chinese authorities.
Zou carried out many of his offences while living at different addresses in London, where he was studying for a PhD, while many others took place in China.
Alongside rape, Zou was convicted of three counts of voyeurism, 10 counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one count of false imprisonment and three counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offence.
Zou was found to have filmed many of his assaults on women, most of whom could not be identified.
After their investigation, police said they believed there may have been as many as 50 further victims and described him as "one of the most prolific sexual predators" ever seen in this country.
The Met appealed for further potential victims to come forward.
The Met said detectives would continue to work with the CPS as prosecutors assess the new evidence.
The force added that it remained committed to supporting any further potential victim-survivors and seeking justice on their behalf.