Two women who reported being drugged and raped by prolific sex offender Zhenhao Zou said they were attacked within 24 hours of each other, the BBC has established.
The first woman who says she was raped told us she was shocked to learn about the second attack and had since felt guilt for not reporting her rape sooner.
Metropolitan Police detectives investigating Zou's offences initially questioned whether the two women might be the same person, because the two attacks sounded identical and happened within such a short time.
This timing showed Zou was confident, a source familiar with the investigation told the BBC World Service. 'He was getting away with it, so he wanted to do it more and more,' they said.
Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual violence
Zou was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 24 years, in June.
The Chinese national was convicted for drugging and raping 10 women - three in the UK and seven in China - between September 2019 and May 2023. All victims appear to have been Chinese.
However, after his trial, detectives, describing Zou as one of the UK's 'most prolific predators', feared he may have attacked as many as 50 more women.
Since Zou's trial, 24 women have come forward in both the UK and China, including the victims of these two attacks.
The first woman, who we are calling Rachel, says she met Zou for drinks in late October 2022. He drove her to his waterside villa in Zhupingsha village, near Dongguan, where he gave her a whisky cocktail that left her dizzy. After she lay down upstairs, she says he raped her.
Phone records reveal Rachel tried to call a friend for help, but Zou grabbed her phone and spoke to the friend himself, preventing her from getting help.
Recognizing Zou's evasive tactics, Rachel felt unable to report her rape due to perceived lack of evidence and fear of repercussions.
We do not know exactly what else was in Rachel's cocktail, but police later found butanediol, a substance that converts into GHB, in Zou's London apartment.
Butanediol can be cheaply purchased in China while being a controlled substance in the UK.
The second victim, known as Female D, was attacked on the same day in October 2022. Zou drugged and raped her, filming the attack. After learning about Zou's conviction, she contacted UK police, presenting herself as a victim.
Detectives are continuing their investigations, asserting that Zou’s behaviors make him one of the most dangerous sexual offenders the Met has ever encountered.
Victims like Rachel express feelings of guilt and responsibility, reflecting on how timely reporting might have spared others from suffering the same fate.
