A 33-year-old Chinese national was sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Kingdomin a case that London police described as one of the most serious and extensive in sexual abuse investigated by force.
He Woolwich Crown Court handed down a life prison sentence, with a minimum of 14 years of effective compliance, against Chao Xuresident of Greenwichfollowing his admission of guilt on 24 charges involving six women.
According to the London Metropolitan Policethe file included four rapes, eight assaults by penetration, four sexual assaults, two administrations of substances with intent to incapacitate, four acts of voyeurism and two episodes of upskirting, the practice of taking photos or videos under a woman’s skirt.
Investigators noted that Xu was listed as a trusted member in university and professional circles, a position from which built a network to capture victims.
Chao Xu was sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault against six women. Photo: London Metropolitan Police.“Xu is one of the most prolific sexual predators what we have discovered,” said Detective Superintendent Lewis Sandersonwho led the investigation. The investigation determined that he used social and work meetings as a cover to commit “calculated and devastating” attacks.
«I hope this brings some comfort to the brave women who came forward and supported this research. Without his bravery, Xu’s offending could have continued unchecked,» Detective Sanderson said.
Chilling details of Chao Xu’s modus operandi: “Spring of Life”
At his Greenwich home, Xu hosted networking events where he offered alcohol and a cocktail he called “Spring of Life”-spring of life-. According to London’s Metropolitan Police, the mixture included spirits and Chinese herbal medicines intended to make guests drowsy.
One of them reported that, after consuming the drink, she lost consciousness and woke up with fragmented memories of the attackincluding the moment when Xu was filming it.
“Spring of Life”, the cocktail with which he drugged his victims to abuse them. Photo: London Metropolitan Police.The victim managed to call the emergency line while at Xu’s house. Officers arrived within 12 minutes and detained him. After checking your phone, They found images that showed that he had drugged women to rape them or sexually assault them while they were unconscious.
Upon searching the house, the police found hidden cameras in the bathroom, bedroom and a closet, in addition to thousands of photos and videos showing vulnerable women. They also seized suspicious substances.
The analysis of the material revealed a pattern of behavior that extended for years and was not limited to his home: according to the force, Xu performed in workplaces, public places and even abroad.
Chao Xu setting up one of the hidden cameras in his apartment. Photo: London Metropolitan Police.So far, London’s Metropolitan Police have identified seven victims of serious sexual assault. Only three could be located; four remain unidentified. Researchers estimate the number of those affected by voyeurism, upskirting and potential physical abuse is in the “hundreds” in both the UK and China.
Since August, when the force launched a public call, Eleven other women came forward to provide their testimonies. The new phase of the investigation involves the examination of a massive volume of digital evidence: six million WeChat messages, thousands of multimedia files and historical searches that could lead to more victims.
The London Metropolitan Police called this task “one of the largest digital forensic operations” in its history.
Police found hidden cameras throughout his apartment. Photo: London Metropolitan Police.From the Prosecutor’s Office, Suzanne Crane He maintained that Xu “drugged and incapacitated six women to rape and sexually assault them.” He stated that the case was sustained thanks to “the strength of the evidence,” including images from his phone, hidden cameras and substances seized from his home.
He added that they will continue to work with the London Metropolitan Police to secure more guilty pleas and expedite court processes.
