Zhao Zhiyong (archive picture) had sexually assaulted 25 middle school pupils on 32 occasions in the space of one and a half years

A successful businessman in China has been executed after being found guilty of raping 25 underage female students, according to a court.

Zhao Zhiyong had sexually assaulted the young victims on 32 occasions in the space of one and a half years.

He was sentenced to death for raping last October before being executed yesterday, according to the Kaifeng Intermediate People's Court in central China's Henan Province.

In an online statement, the court said Zhao had colluded with an accomplice, named Li Na, who was responsible for scouting for victims.

Between May 2015 and January 2017, Li brought underage girls to hotels or Zhao's home for him to have sexual intercourse with by force.

The court said it carried out the execution after receiving an order from the Supreme Court.

Zhao was said to be an influential businessman in Kaifeng.

He owned a large flour factory and was the deputy head of the Kaifeng Chamber of Commerce, according to Chinese news outlet The Paper, citing a court notice.

He was also said to be a representative of the Kaifeng People's Congress

The 49-year-old was the boss of a large flour factory and the deputy head of the Kaifeng Chamber of Commerce, according to Chinese news outlet The Paper citing a court notice

He was executed by the Intermediate People's Court of Kaifeng (pictured), an ancient capital

The notice also claimed that Zhao, 49, had sent Li to look for 'young female pupils' from middle schools in the county of Weishi so that he could have sex with them.

Li, together with eight accomplices, forced the victims to sleep with Zhao by beating them, intimidating them and taking pictures of their privates as threats.

The notice added that Zhao had raped 25 middle school students on 32 occasions, including 14 girls who were not yet 14 years old.

Zhao's accomplice Li was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.