By SCM Staff Writer
LONDON – A Chinese national has been caged for life after he was unmasked as one of the most prolific and depraved sexual offenders in Metropolitan Police history.
Twisted Chao Xu, 33, used his position in university and professional networks to target and assault women over several years, using ‘networking events’ at his Greenwich home as a chilling cover for his crimes.
Xu, of Glaisher Street, Greenwich, was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years at Woolwich Crown Court after admitting to 24 horrific counts against six women. He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
The predator lured his victims to his home before supplying them with alcohol and a sinister home-made cocktail he chillingly dubbed the ‘Spring of Life’.
The mixture of alcohols and Chinese herbal medicines was intended to stupefy his guests, leaving them unconscious or incapacitated.
Xu’s sickening crimes included 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.
The monster’s vile double-life was finally exposed when one courageous victim regained consciousness after an assault and, despite still being at his property, immediately called 999.
Officers rushed to the scene within 12 minutes and Xu was arrested on the spot.
Hidden Cameras and Hundreds of Victims
A forensic dive into his mobile phone revealed the horrifying scale of his depravity.
Cops discovered Xu had drugged and raped women while they were unconscious, secretly filming the attacks on his mobile and on covert cameras hidden throughout his property, including the bathroom, bedroom, and wardrobe.
Investigators seized thousands of images and videos and suspicious substances believed to have been used to spike drinks.
A Detective Superintendent called Xu “among the most dangerous and prolific sexual offenders we have ever encountered.”
But the true scale of his crimes is feared to be far greater.
While detectives have identified seven victims of serious sexual assault so far, they believe there are potentially hundreds more victims of voyeurism and upskirting, with crimes extending to workplaces, public spaces, and even overseas in China.
Since the Met’s public appeal in August, 11 additional women have bravely come forward.
Detectives are now faced with one of the Met’s largest ever digital investigations, having recovered six million WeChat messages and thousands of images and videos from Xu’s devices.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Sanderson praised the bravery of the women who came forward: “Without their bravery, Xu’s offending could have continued unchecked.”
The Met has urged anyone who attended Xu’s networking events, visited his property, or had any contact with him in the UK or China to come forward.
