Serial UK sex attacker jailed for life for double murder, rape after police failings

A British serial sex attacker will spend the rest of his life in jail after being convicted of two murders and the rape and serious assault of a third woman, following an escalating spree of sexual offenses that police and prosecutors failed to stop.

Simon Levy, 40, was found guilty last week of the murder of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and of Sheryl Wilkins in August 2025, and of the rape and serious assault of a third woman in January that year. A life sentence is the most severe punishment in the UK and is extremely rare – with only just over 70 people currently serving the term in England and Wales, according to data from the London Metropolitan Police.

Coverage comparison

Both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post reported on Levy's convictions and the failures of the criminal justice system that allowed him to continue offending. The Guardian's reporting emphasized the vulnerability of the victims and the pattern of Levy's violence, quoting experts critical of the police response. The Jerusalem Post also highlighted the system's shortcomings, citing the police's own admission of failures and the London mayor's call for a review. Both outlets noted that Levy targeted sex workers, believing this made him less likely to be caught.

Key claims

  • Simon Levy was found guilty of the murder of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and of Sheryl Wilkins in August 2025, and of the rape and serious assault of a third woman. This was reported by both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.
  • The victims were sex workers, and Levy believed that by targeting sex workers he was more likely to get away with his crimes, as reported by The Guardian.
  • Levy had a history of sexual violence dating back to 2017, including convictions for assaulting a woman at a party in Camden in 2018 and for sexual assault by penetration of a woman on her way to the Notting Hill carnival, according to The Guardian.
  • The police's handling of the case is under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as reported by both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.
  • Only just over 70 people are currently serving life sentences in England and Wales, according to data from the London Metropolitan Police, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • London mayor Sadiq Khan called for a multi-agency review to try and stop similar failures from happening again, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • The survivor of one of Levy's attacks testified in court, revealing the extent of his crimes, as reported by The Guardian.
  • Levy was linked to the murders by DNA samples from the victims, travel card and phone data, and CCTV footage, according to The Guardian.

Perspectives

Metropolitan Police: London's Metropolitan Police acknowledged that Levy was released after being arrested on suspicion of murdering Valencia-Trujillo because they were unable to confirm any third-party involvement in her death. Chief Mark Rowley told reporters the force "could have done better, definitely," but added that "the justice system needs to do its job better."

Centre for Women's Justice: Harriet Wistrich, CEO of the Centre for Women's Justice, said: "The catalog of combined failures..." (the full quote was not available in the provided extracts).