Man jailed for drugging, raping and filming women

A serial rapist who drugged, raped and secretly filmed his victims has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years.

Chao Xu, a Chinese national, pleaded guilty to 24 sexual offences, including sexual assault, voyeurism and upskirting against six women between November 2021 and June 2025.

Sentencing Xu at Woolwich Crown Court, Judge Christopher Grout described him as a "sexual predator" and "an incredibly dangerous man".

One of the women he targeted told the court that she would "never be able to forget" what Xu did to her. Police are appealing for any more of his victims to come forward.

The woman told the court: "I don't think I will ever be the same person again.

"I am afraid that I will never be able to forget what that man did to me and how he stole the person I was.

"I fear that I may have introduced Xu to other women who may have suffered the same fate as me. I carry that too.

"I felt out of control and so very alone. I have been told that the drugs he used on me are for animals."