A serial rapist described as “cowardly and calculated” has been sentenced to jail for drugging women and installing a hidden camera inside an air freshener. Chao Xu, residing in Greenwich, south-east London, was apprehended following a networking event at his residence where a female attendee fell ill after consuming drugs that induce drowsiness. Subsequently, Xu sexually assaulted her multiple times.
Law enforcement discovered that Xu had placed concealed camera devices in various locations, including bathrooms and inside an air freshener, amassing numerous unauthorized intimate images and videos of women on his phone. In a plea and trial preparation hearing at Woolwich Crown Court, Xu admitted to 24 sexual offenses, such as rape, sexual assault, and upskirting, over a three-year period. The 33-year-old Chinese national received a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years in prison.
Xu confessed in August to multiple charges, including rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, voyeurism, administering substances with intent, and using equipment without consent between February 2022 and June 2025. Notably, Xu provided guests at his events with a concoction called “the spring of life,” containing alcoholic beverages and Chinese herbal medicines, which he allegedly laced with stupefying agents to render victims unconscious.
The court learned that Xu engaged in upskirting by employing cameras in workplaces and public areas like London Bridge underground station. Authorities labeled Xu as one of the most prolific sex offenders ever, as he filmed himself assaulting incapacitated women. Detective Sergeant Marc Gadd expressed concerns over Xu’s extensive criminal activities, including hosting networking events to facilitate his illicit acts.
Judge Christopher Grout described Xu as an exceedingly dangerous individual who derived pleasure from his reprehensible actions. Grout highlighted Xu’s calculated behavior, evidenced by his strategic placement of covert recording systems and drugging of victims. The judge condemned Xu for betraying the trust of women he befriended in the most appalling manner possible. Despite the possibility of deportation, Grout left the decision to the Home Office.
Following a plea for information, additional victims have come forward, urging anyone connected to Xu’s events or recruitment business to report any suspicious encounters. The majority of Xu’s offenses occurred in London, prompting authorities to collaborate with Chinese counterparts to address potential crimes in both countries.