“His life sentence reflects his heinous acts,” says Saira Pike of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
She says they were determined to seek justice for the identified and unidentified women in this case.
The prosecution worked with the police for over a year to “pick apart the unprecedented amount of footage and web chats” showing his meticulous planning and “horrific execution of his crimes”, she adds.
Following the police appeal, she says the CPS will continue to review and consider further charges to ensure he is held accountable.
She thanks the courageous women who have come forward to report his crimes.
Mackenzie describes Zou as “one of the most prolific predators we have ever seen”.
He says the case was one of the most “complex, challenging and heartrending” investigations the police have ever carried out.
“It is one that will stay with us forever,” he says.
Detective Inspector Richard Mackenzie of the Met Police starts by commending the courage of the victims in the trial who suffered as a result of Zou’s “depraved actions”.
He says he hopes the lengthy sentence will provide a small amount of comfort for them.
He says police have not identified all of the victims, and makes an appeal for anyone who has information who thinks they are a victim to come forward.
We’re waiting to hear from DI Richard Mackenzie from the Metropolitan Police Service and Saira Pike from the Crown Prosecution Service outside Inner London Crown Court.
You can watch their remarks live at the top of this page, and we’ll bring you key updates.
As we’ve just heard, Zou has been given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 24 years.
As the Sentencing Council explains, an offender serving a life sentence will remain on licence for the rest of their life.
If they are thought to be a risk to the public they could be recalled to prison and don’t need to have committed another offence in order to be recalled.
It’s worth pointing out that a life sentence is different to a whole life order, which means the offender must spend the rest of their life in prison.
Daniel Sandford and Claire Ellison
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
Zou will not be eligible for release until 2048 at the earliest.
A translator whispers each sentence to him as he stares at the judge.
Former PhD student Zhenhao Zou, who raped 10 women in London and China, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years.
Taking into account the number of days he has been on remand, he faces 22 years and 227 days before he can be considered for parole.
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
The judge says that given the picture she has just laid out, she must pass a life sentence.
Daniel Sandford and Claire Ellison
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
“You are a highly manipulative and intelligent young man,” the judge says.
The women were “simply pieces in an elaborate game for one”, she says, going on to say he has “no understanding of the meaning of consent”.
“There is a high level of danger because of your distorted thinking,” the judge says, adding that his desire to assert power and control means he is “a risk for an indefinite period”.
She goes on to question whether Zou has shown genuine remorse.
Daniel Sandford and Claire Ellison
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
Judge Rosina Cottage says there a number of factors which mean these offences are in the highest category.
She goes on to describe how Zou did not wear a condom in any of the videos the court has seen.
She also described how the woman who he falsely imprisoned was “almost force-fed” laced alcohol.
Daniel Sandford and Claire Ellison
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
The judge moves on to the last of the women identified by police, who was raped in Zou’s London flat.
“You knew that she wanted to leave… you started to make her drink more to get her to the point where you could rape her,” she says, going on to describe how Zou “manhandled her onto the bed”.
“Her fragile mental health was profoundly affected by your behaviour,” she adds.
The judge says that “outrageously she was trolled on social media after bravely warning others about you”.
The judge says the court watched extremely distressing video footage of Zou’s crimes, saying that “some who watched wept”.
She then describes Zou’s interactions with his victims, the nature of his crimes, and the damage it has caused to their lives.
Describing the rape of one victim, the judge says that the woman clearly showed a lack of consent and cried out for her mother repeatedly.
The judge also describes how two women – who have not been identified – were treated like “ragdolls” by Zou in the videos he kept of them and his crimes.
Daniel Sandford and Claire Ellison
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
A reminder that this page contains distressing details.
Addressing Zou, the judge says he told his victims that resistance was futile, he ignored their pleas to stop and that sometimes he would be begged to stop.
“These women you treated callously and used them as sex toys for your pleasure,” she says.
She also describes how he downloaded material “glorifying rape and stupefaction”.
Daniel Sandford and Claire Ellison
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
Addressing Zhenhao Zou, the judge reminds him of all the offences he was convicted of.
She describes him as a “very bright young man” who appeared to the world to be well-to-do, ambitious and charming.
“You are also a sexual predator,” she adds.
Claire Ellison
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
Zou is back in court and Judge Rosina Cottage KC is about to deliver her sentencing remarks – a reminder, this page will have distressing detail throughout.
The court is due back from lunch shortly, when Chinese PhD student Zhenhao Zou will be sentenced for raping 10 women.
Here’s a recap of what we heard in court this morning:
- Zou entered the dock with four security staff, and his interpreter was sworn in. His barrister said they knew the sentence would be “very substantial”
- The court heard three impact statements – only three of Zou’s 10 victims have been identified. One woman described meeting Zou in 2021 and said after having drinks she experienced “a loss of consciousness” before the attack
- Another victim said she reported the attack but later withdrew it; she said “the anxiety inside me never went away”
- Twenty-four more people have come forward since Zou was convicted in March
- A pre-sentence report heard that Zou offered to be chemically castrated in the hope of receiving a lighter sentence – but that the offer was not in recognition of the harm he caused
The judge will deliver her sentence shortly – our reporters in court will bring you all her comments live.
As a reminder, details of help and support are available via BBC Action Line.
Judge Rosina Cottage KC has paused proceedings and says she will pass her sentence when the hearing resumes at 14:00 BST.
Daniel Sandford and Claire Ellison
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
Zou’s barrister Mark Cotter KC says “the road to rehabilitation may be a long one”, but adds there are “aspects” of the pre-sentence report that show “he is reflecting on what has taken place”.
He also asks the court to consider Zou’s age, saying that with a younger person, there is a greater chance of change.
There is evidence Zou, 28, will not be dangerous indefinitely, the defence says.
Daniel Sandford and Claire Ellison
Reporting from Inner London Crown Court
The judge says Zou had “limited, if any idea of the meaning of consent”.
The court also hears that a pre-sentence report assessed that Zou “was a high risk of serious harm to the public, particularly lone females”.
The report says he has minimal insight into his offending.
It also says Zou offered to be chemically castrated in the hope of receiving a lighter sentence and never to have sex again, but it adds that this offer was not said in recognition of the harm he caused.
