By Lucy Caulkett-
A serial rapist who drugged victims and placed a hidden camera in an air freshener will be sentenced on Friday for a string of sexual offences.
Chao Xu, 33, of Greenwich, south-east London, pleaded guilty to 24 sexual offences over the course of three years, including rape, sexual assault and upskirting, at a plea and trial preparation hearing at Woolwich Crown Court in August.Chao Xu, 33
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,Met Police detectives found hidden cameras in Xu’s bathroom, including one secreted inside an air freshener, and also recovered videos and images showing he was a prolific upskirter on London’s transport network.
Xu has admitted four counts of rape, eight charges 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 Chinese national will be sentenced at the same court on Friday.
Police were first alerted to Xu’s offending after a networking event he held at one of his home addresses in Greenwich in June.
He offered one of the women in attendance to stay in his flat to recover after she became unwell, and proceeded to rape her multiple times, the Metropolitan Police previously said after Xu’s guilty pleas. Officers discovered later that he had administered drugs to her that are known to cause drowsiness and incapacitation. The offences he has admitted involve six women and span two-and-a-half years. But the Met said in August it believes Xu’s criminal activities may be much more widespread over the course of several years and other victims may come forward.
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Police also found Xu had hidden camera devices in multiple locations, including inside an air freshener and in bathrooms, and had hundreds of intimate images and videos of women on his phone, believed to have been obtained without consent. The Met said its detectives are looking through 6 million messages on Xu’s devices, but already “believe the scale of his offending could be even bigger and are making a direct appeal for any victim-survivors who have not yet been identified to come forward and seek specialist support”.
The court also heard that in relation to the charges of operating equipment beneath the clothing of another without consent – known as upskirting – the defendant used cameras at a workplace and at London Bridge underground station.
In August, Xu admitted 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, and two counts of operating equipment beneath the clothing of another without consent between February 2022 and June 2025.
The judge at the time, Recorder Simon Stirling, told Xu: “You have pleaded guilty to a large number of offences for which the inevitable outcome is a lengthy custodial sentence.”
Xu pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration but the Crown announced it would not be pursuing a trial on those charges and asked for them to lie on the file.
“Xu is a calculated prolific sex offender, who has preyed on unsuspecting women using cowardly methods – administering drugs to rape, sexually assault and take intimate images without consent” said Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Sanderson.
“Our investigation is ongoing and we continue examine the large amount of evidence we have collected, which will help identify any further potential victim-survivors.
“We’re also asking anyone who has any information about Xu or believes they may have been a victim, to come forward – you will be listened to. I want to reassure anyone impacted that you are not alone and can seek specialist support and guidance, not only from the police, but also from independent charities and services.”
Suzanne Crane, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added that Xu poses “a serious danger to women”.
“The evidence included disturbing images and videos recovered from Xu’s phone, hidden cameras, and substances commonly used to spike drinks found at his home.
“This overwhelming evidence led to his guilty pleas today.”
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