A serial rapist described as "cowardly and calculated" has been handed a life sentence for a three-year campaign of sexual violence against women, which involved drugging them and concealing cameras in everyday objects like an air freshener.
A Calculated Pattern of Abuse
Chao Xu, 33, from Greenwich, south-east London, was ultimately caught after police investigated a networking event he hosted at one of his homes in June 2025. One woman who attended became severely unwell after Xu administered drugs known to cause drowsiness and incapacitation. He then offered her a place to stay at his flat, where he horrifically raped her multiple times while she was unconscious.
Following his arrest, a Metropolitan Police investigation uncovered that Xu had placed hidden recording devices in multiple locations, including inside an air freshener and in bathrooms. Officers also discovered hundreds of intimate images and videos of women on his phone, all believed to have been recorded without their knowledge or consent.
Pleading Guilty to 24 Sexual Offences
In August 2025, at a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court, Xu pleaded guilty to a total of 24 sexual offences committed between February 2022 and June 2025. The charges included:
- Four counts of rape
- Eight counts of assault by penetration
- Four counts of sexual assault
- Four counts of voyeurism
- Two counts of administering a substance with intent
- Two counts of operating equipment beneath the clothing of another without consent (upskirting)
The court heard that his upskirting offences were committed at his workplace and at London Bridge Underground Station. Xu pleaded not guilty to two further counts, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to pursue a trial on those charges.
Life Sentence for a Prolific Offender
Returning to Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, 14th November 2025, Xu was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 14 years in prison. Recorder Simon Stirling had previously told Xu that a lengthy custodial sentence was inevitable.
Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Sanderson labelled Xu a "calculated prolific sex offender" who used cowardly methods to prey on women. The police investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to examine a large amount of evidence to identify any further victims.
Suzanne Crane from the Crown Prosecution Service emphasised that Xu deliberately drugged women to render them unconscious and vulnerable, enabling his attacks. She praised the brave testimony of the victims who came forward, without which he may have continued his offending undetected.
