PSNI Supports Appeal For Potential Victims Of Serial Rapist

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is supporting a renewed public appeal from the London Metropolitan Police Service (Met) to encourage potential victims of serial rapist Zhenhao Zou to come forward. The Met has established dedicated online channels for reporting.

Since the Met's initial appeal in March 2025, 23 women have made reports. The PSNI is now appealing to current or former residents of Northern Ireland who may have concerns about Zou to come forward.

Zou, aged 28, moved to Northern Ireland at the age of 20 to study mechanical engineering at Queen's University Belfast between 2017 and 2019. He briefly returned to his native China due to the Covid-19 pandemic before moving to London in September 2019 to pursue a master's degree, making periodic returns to China.

Described by the Met as potentially one of the UK's worst sexual predators, Zou was convicted at Inner London Crown Court of 11 rapes involving 10 different women in the UK and China. However, police believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. Detective Chief Inspector Stephanie Finlay of the PSNI's Public Protection Branch said: "To date we have not received any reports of potential offences committed in Northern Ireland and so we are again appealing for information. We have concerns that many of the victims do not know they are victims. Zou's pattern of offending involved him meeting women socially, or through social media, then luring them back to his flat where he would ply them with drink laced with drugs and sexually assault them when they lost consciousness."

DCI Finlay urged anyone who met Zou or was alone with him, particularly in his accommodation or in an encounter that left them feeling uneasy or as if something happened without their consent, to report the incident.

"Please come forward and report. We will treat you with sensitivity and respect. Do not suffer in silence if you have been victimised by this man, we are only interested in ensuring you get the help and support you need, in finding out what may have happened to you and aiding the Met in getting you the justice you deserve," DCI Finlay stated.

The PSNI confirmed they are in close contact with the Met, who are leading the investigation, and that this dialogue will continue.

Reports relating to Zhenhao Zou can be made to the Metropolitan Police Service online via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP): www.mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X38-PO1

The MIPP is also available in Simplified Chinese www.mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X38-PO2

If you wish to speak to Met detectives or make a report relating to Zou, you can also contact police via email on survivors@met.police.uk