A 27-year-old Chinese PhD student, Zhenhao Zou, who was pursuing his studies in the UK, faces accusations of raping ten women and has testified to a jury that he has a fondness for “rape role play.”
Zou refutes 11 allegations of rape, three of voyeurism, 12 charges related to extreme pornographic materials, and one count of false imprisonment.
During the proceedings at Inner London Crown Court, Zou indicated that two videos presented as evidence, featuring him and a woman referred to as Female A, were created following discussions about his interests. The woman’s identity remains unknown to the police.
He recounted meeting the woman through a dating application named Soul in April 2022, where they arranged to meet and subsequently engaged in sexual activity at his student housing located in Bloomsbury, central London.
Zou noted that during their second encounter, they had sexual relations again and shared insights about their sexual preferences, including her interest in role play involving uniforms. “We specifically addressed the types of role play that I enjoy, which included rape role play,” he stated, explaining the origins of the videos.
His counsel, Mark Cotter KC, inquired, “Regarding the videos made with Female A, did you ever share them with anyone?” Zou responded, “No.”
Among the 11 rape counts he faces, two pertain to Female A. Out of six video clips reviewed by the court, the women featured appeared with their eyes closed. Cotter queried, “What was the reason for their eyes being closed?” Zhou answered, “I requested them to do so.”
When probed about his reasoning for this request, he explained, “It aligns with my preferences. I engage in sexual activities with them appearing to be in a state of sleep.”
Zou further asserted that the women consented to being filmed, having “informed them in advance.” He claimed to have met the six unidentified women through dating apps.
The last woman alleging rape testified that the incident occurred at his residence in Elephant and Castle, south London, stating she had been intoxicated and that he prevented her from exiting.
Zou recounted that during their first meeting at his apartment, she unexpectedly began to pose math questions, which he felt disrupted the mood. Their subsequent interaction took place at a friend’s party located two floors above his flat.
He mentioned that they consumed considerable amounts of alcohol together before returning to his place to continue drinking and playing games. Zou indicated he was unaware of being filmed in his bedroom, as a camera was positioned on a bedside table. He asserted that the camera could either be activated manually or by a motion sensor.
He defended his decision to stop the woman from leaving, citing, “At that point, I believed her condition was not safe for her or for others.”
Zou categorically denies all 35 charges against him, which also include possession of controlled substances with intent to commit rape. The trial is ongoing.
