Calculated' predator who spiked and raped women jailed

"A serial rapist suspected of being one of the UK's worst sex offenders has been jailed for life with a minimum of 14 years, after spiking and recording his victims as he abused them. Chao Xu, 33, had placed hidden cameras inside household objects such as an air freshener and a packet of sanitary pads to spy on women visiting his home address in Greenwich, and had also filmed women at his workplace and participated in upskirting at London Bridge underground station."

"The evidence gathered by the police shows the defendant to be a bold and persistent sexual predator whose offending has steadily become more and more serious. The evidence revealed he was so emboldened he was willing to strike anywhere. At his own home address, at his place of work and in train stations and also willing to strike in respect of anyone."

"His Honour Judge Christopher Grout said Xu was an incredibly dangerous man who took great enjoyment from his offending. The judge told Xu: Your behaviour was calculated and planned, evidenced by the covert recording systems you had set up in your flats and the fact you had incapacitated a number of your victims by drugging them. You betrayed the trust of a number of women who you befriended in the most appalling ways imaginable."

Chao Xu, 33, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 14 years for spiking, secretly recording, and sexually assaulting multiple women. He placed hidden cameras inside household objects such as an air freshener and a packet of sanitary pads at his Greenwich address, filmed women at his workplace, and took part in upskirting at London Bridge station. Xu drugged and incapacitated a number of victims before offending and targeted women in homes, workplaces and public transport locations. Xu may have hundreds more victims, and women who had contact with him have been urged to come forward. Any potential deportation is for the Home Office. The crimes showed strong similarities to another case involving a Chinese national jailed to a life term with a longer minimum tariff.

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