A man who was abducted by a gang, forced to rape and strangle a young woman, and then was blackmailed over photos taken of the ordeal, is still struggling to recover nine months later.

"He is so distraught and always looks as if he's in a trance. Now he's in therapy and is off work," said a director of the local procuratorate who identified himself as Li.

The 24-year-old man, surnamed Xia, was working as a driver for the procuratorate of Xinhua district in Pingdingshan city, Henan province, when he was attacked in October.