A PROLIFIC predator has pleaded guilty to a string of offences including rape, sexual assault and voyeurism.
Chinese national Chao Xu, 33, used drugs to render victims unconscious before recording himself attacking them.
Chao Xu has admitted a string of sex offences
A major investigation has been set up by Metropolitan Police specialist sex crimes detectives into the serial sex predator.
Officers believe his offending took place over a number of years and are appealing for potential victims to come forward.
Xu today pleaded guilty to 24 counts relating to 12 women, including four counts of rape, eight counts of assault by penetration and four counts of sexual assault.
He also admitted four counts of voyeurism, two counts of administering a substance with intent, and two counts of operating equipment beneath the clothing of another without consent.
The student pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration but the charges will lie on the file.
Woolwich Crown Court heard the sexual offences he admitted relate to three known victims and three who are unknown.
The voyeurism concerns six “different” unknown complainants.
The court also heard in relation to the upskirting, Xu used cameras at a workplace and at London Bridge underground station.
He worked for a firm recruiting Chinese students to work for UK firms and carried out the offences at two South London addresses over a four-year period.
Xu, who is believed to have lived in the UK since 2013, was arrested in the early hours of June 1 when police were called to his £500,000 riverside home in Greenwich, South London.
A woman had fallen ill at an event when Xu invited her back to recover.
But the fiend raped her multiple times after giving her drugs that cause drowsiness and incapacitation.
Police later discovered hidden camera devices in multiple locations – including the inside of an air freshener and bathrooms.
Xu had a chilling stash of hundreds of intimate images and videos of women on his phone, which officers believed were obtained without their consent.
Police are still trawling through the images and content and believe his depraved offending could be even bigger.
The Met is now making a direct appeal for any women who have not yet been identified to come forward and seek specialist support.
Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Sanderson, who is leading the investigation, said: “Xu is a calculated prolific sex offender, who has preyed on unsuspecting women using cowardly methods – administering drugs to rape, sexually assault and take intimate images without consent.
“Our investigation is ongoing and we continue examine the large amount of evidence we have collected, which will help identify any further potential victim-survivors.
“We’re also asking anyone who has any information about Xu or believes they may have been a victim, to come forward – you will be listened to.
“I want to reassure anyone impacted that you are not alone and can seek specialist support and guidance, not only from the police, but also from independent charities and services.”
Officers arrested Xu on suspicion of digital penetration on June 1 and he was charged two days later with 17 counts of sexual assault relating to one victim.
On July 23, he was further charged with six counts of sexual assault relating to six victims.
How to contact the police and independent support agencies about Xu
Reports relating to Chao Xu can be made online via the Major Incident Public Portal, so it is as accessible as possible for potential victims and survivors.
English – https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25Y21-PO1
Mandarin – https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25Y21-PO2
Cantonese – https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25Y21-PO3
If you wish to speak to Met detectives or make a report relating to Xu, you can also contact police via email on [email protected] or on 02071753802.
You can also make a report to police by calling 101 from within the UK, quoting reference 01/7563135/25.
If you live in England or Wales and have been affected by this case and would like to seek support from specialist agencies, please contact the independent charity Rape Crisis via their 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line or call them on 0808 500 2222. Specially trained staff are there to listen, answer questions and offer emotional support.
Suzanne Crane, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Chao Xu deliberately drugged women to render them unconscious and vulnerable, enabling him to rape and sexually assault them without their knowledge.
“Xu is a serious danger to women, and the scale of his offending is such that without the brave testimony of victims, who came forward after realising what had happened to them, may well have continued undetected.
“From the outset, we worked closely with the police to build a strong case. The evidence included disturbing images and videos recovered from Xu’s phone, hidden cameras, and substances commonly used to spike drinks found at his home. This overwhelming evidence led to his guilty pleas today.
“We are determined to seek justice for all victims and will continue to work closely with the police to review any further evidence as their investigation continues.”
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