A Chinese businessman, Chao Xu, 33, described by authorities as one of the most dangerous sexual offenders they have ever encountered, has been sentenced to life in prison for a series of rapes, sexual assaults, and voyeurism offences in London, Times UK reported. Xu targeted young Chinese women at networking events in his £700,000 riverside flat in Greenwich, a WeWork office in Canary Wharf, and at London Bridge station, using drugs including GHB and scopolamine to incapacitate his victims.
Xu, an international law graduate, secretly filmed many of his assaults, placing hidden cameras in his bedroom, bathroom, and wardrobe. Authorities discovered thousands of images and videos on his devices, as well as around six million WeChat messages that are still being analysed. Prosecutors described his behaviour as “calculated and planned,” noting that he even carried out offences in the presence of others.
Judge Christopher Grout imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 14 years, telling Xu that he posed a high risk of sexual and psychological harm to women. Detective Superintendent Lewis Sanderson of the Metropolitan Police called Xu “among the most dangerous and prolific sexual offenders we have ever encountered,” and praised the courage of the women who came forward.
The court heard that Xu ran a recruitment business to lure Chinese nationals to London, using his networking events to facilitate his crimes. He provided a cocktail he called the “Spring of Life” to intoxicate women and placed hidden cameras in air fresheners and sanitary products. Up to 20 additional women have since come forward claiming they may have been secretly filmed.
The offences were uncovered after a woman fell ill at Xu’s home in May and was assaulted; she regained consciousness the next morning, confronted him, and called the police, ultimately providing Xu’s phone and PIN to officers. The case has highlighted the scale and severity of his offences, marking him as one of the UK’s most prolific sexual predators, according to Times UK.
