On November 14, 2025, a case described as one of the most disturbing and far-reaching sexual offending investigations in British history reached its latest chapter. Chao Xu, a 33-year-old Chinese national residing in Greenwich, southeast London, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years at Woolwich Crown Court after pleading guilty to 24 counts of sexual offences. The Metropolitan Police have called Xu "one of the most prolific sexual offenders ever investigated," and the evidence suggests a scale of harm that is both staggering and deeply unsettling.
Xu’s list of convictions is long and harrowing: four counts of rape, eight counts of assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of administering substances with intent, four counts of voyeurism, and two counts of upskirting. Two further counts, relating to a seventh victim, remain on file. According to BBC News, these offences took place between November 2021 and June 2025, but detectives believe Xu’s predatory behavior extended much further back, with potentially hundreds of victims in both the UK and China.
How did Xu manage to evade detection for so long? According to the Metropolitan Police, he exploited his position within university and professional circles, presenting himself as a trusted figure—someone who organized networking events and social gatherings for young Chinese students and recent graduates. Xu was a graduate of the University of Greenwich and ran a recruitment business that helped Chinese nationals find work in London. These roles gave him access to vulnerable women, whom he targeted with chilling calculation.
At these events, often hosted at his flat on Glaisher Street, Xu supplied guests with alcohol and a concoction he called the “Spring of Life”—a cocktail of various alcohols mixed with Chinese herbal medicines. But this was no ordinary party drink. Forensic analysis later revealed that Xu also used drugs such as GHB and scopolamine—powerful substances capable of rendering victims unconscious or severely incapacitated. According to The Independent, Xu’s intention was clear: to stupefy his guests and make them unable to resist or remember the assaults that followed.
It was only after a particularly harrowing attack in May 2025 that Xu’s crimes came to light. Following a networking event at his home, one victim regained partial consciousness during an assault, realizing Xu was filming on his mobile device. Despite the effects of the drugs, she managed to call 999 while still at the property. Police arrived within 12 minutes, arresting Xu at the scene. Subsequent searches of his home unearthed a trove of evidence: thousands of images and videos, many depicting women unconscious or incapacitated, and numerous covert cameras hidden in everyday objects—an air freshener, a speaker, and even in his wardrobe and bathroom.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Sanderson, who led the Met’s investigation, described the material found as "deeply disturbing." He stated, "Chao Xu is among the most dangerous and prolific sexual offenders we have ever encountered. His crimes were calculated, sustained, and devastating, spanning years and leaving unimaginable harm in their wake. Thanks to the relentless efforts of our officers and prosecutors, this cowardly predator has now been handed a life sentence. I hope this brings some measure of comfort to the courageous women who came forward and supported this investigation. Without their bravery, Xu’s offending could have continued unchecked."
The scale of Xu’s offending is difficult to comprehend. Forensic teams are now sifting through an enormous volume of digital evidence, including six million WeChat messages, thousands of images and videos, and extensive search histories. The Metropolitan Police have identified seven victims of serious sexual assault so far—three have been traced and are receiving specialist support, while four remain unidentified. But the true number of victims is believed to be much higher. Since the Met launched a public appeal in August 2025, eleven additional women have come forward, and investigators anticipate more disclosures as the investigation continues.
Xu’s methods were insidious. According to court testimony reported by BBC News, he installed hidden cameras in not only his home but also his workplace, and even committed upskirting offences at London Bridge underground station. Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC told the court that Xu had made "compilations" of his assaults, editing together recordings of him raping women who were incapacitated. Xu’s crimes were not impulsive; they were "calculated and planned," as Judge Christopher Grout noted in his sentencing remarks. The judge did not mince words, telling Xu: "I have reached the inevitable conclusion that you are an incredibly dangerous man. Your behaviour was calculated and planned. You betrayed the trust of a number of women, in the most appalling ways imaginable. You are a sexual predator who will gain the trust and confidence of women before raping and sexually assaulting them."
One victim, whose account was shared in court, described the horror of being conscious but unable to move or speak: "The terrifying thing had been that I couldn’t open my eyes and mouth. Nor could I move my body. I felt everything that he did, pulling my dress off and touching me intimately. I was horrified. I could just see through my eyes every now and then that he had his phone out. I just couldn’t understand why he was doing that to me. He was supposed to be a friend." She added, "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."
The Crown Prosecution Service’s Suzanne Crane emphasized the importance of victim testimony in bringing Xu to justice: "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. We worked with the police from the outset to make sure we had enough evidence to prosecute him for these appalling crimes. His victims were at their most vulnerable and unable to take action to protect themselves. It was the strength of our case, including images and videos found on his phone, hidden cameras, and drugs commonly used to spike drinks seized from his home address, that secured his guilty pleas."
The investigation is far from over. The Metropolitan Police continue to appeal for anyone who may have attended Xu’s events, visited his property, or otherwise come into contact with him in the UK or China to come forward. Reports can be made online via the Major Incident Public Portal, which is available in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, or by contacting Operation Kafka directly by email or phone. For those affected, specialist support is available through the independent charity Rape Crisis, whose staff are trained to offer confidential emotional support and guidance.
The sentencing of Chao Xu has brought a dangerous predator to justice, but for many, the search for answers—and healing—has only just begun. As investigators continue to unravel the full extent of Xu’s crimes, the courage of survivors and the tireless work of law enforcement remain at the heart of this unfolding story.
