Fact Check: "Zou was convicted of 28 offenses, including 11 rapes and voyeurism."
What We Know
Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old PhD student at University College London, was convicted of 28 offenses, which indeed included 11 counts of rape and three counts of voyeurism. The offenses were part of a broader set of charges that also included 10 counts of possession of extreme pornographic images, one count of false imprisonment, and three counts of possession of drugs with intent to commit a sexual offense (CPS News Centre, CPS News Centre). Zou was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years on June 19, 2025, after being found guilty during a four-week trial (BBC News, The Guardian).
Analysis
The claim that Zou was convicted of 28 offenses, including 11 rapes and voyeurism, is accurate. However, it is important to note that while he was found guilty of three counts of voyeurism, he was also charged with 12 counts of possession of extreme pornographic images, which is a significant aspect of the case (CPS News Centre). The prosecution described Zou as a "serial rapist" who used drugs to incapacitate his victims, and the evidence included video recordings of his attacks (BBC News, The Guardian).
The sources used in this analysis are credible, including official statements from the Crown Prosecution Service and reputable news outlets like the BBC and The Guardian, which have reported extensively on the case. These sources provide detailed accounts of the trial and the nature of the offenses, reinforcing the reliability of the information presented.
Conclusion
The claim is Partially True. While it accurately states that Zou was convicted of 28 offenses, including 11 rapes and voyeurism, it overlooks the broader context of the charges against him, particularly the significant number of counts related to extreme pornographic images. Therefore, while the core of the claim is correct, it lacks completeness regarding the full scope of his offenses.
Sources
- PhD student given life sentence for raping 10 women
- PhD student found guilty of raping 10 women
- Former PhD student Zhenhao Zou is jailed for at least 24 years
- Student Who Filmed Himself Raping at Least 10 Women Is Sentenced
- Drug-rape PhD student Zhenhao Zou to be sentenced
- Serial rapist Zhenhao Zou jailed for minimum of 24 years
- Chinese student gets life for 'campaign of rape' in UK and China
- Chinese student who raped and drugged 10 women jailed