Lead

Simon Levy, a 40-year-old from Tottenham, north London, has been sentenced to a whole-life tariff for the murders of two women in London, having been convicted of the killings at the Old Bailey. Levy was also convicted of raping and attacking a third woman, who survived. The sentencing judge, the recorder of London, Mark Lucraft KC, told Levy he would be in prison for life, describing him as someone who "ruthlessly exploits others for your own personal sexual satisfaction."

Coverage comparison

Reports of the sentencing note that Levy was on bail as a suspect for the first murder when he committed the second, with police saying they lacked sufficient evidence to charge him. Before the killings, Levy had an extensive history of sexual offending and was on the sex offender register, having been jailed in 2021 for two sexual assaults. The case has also drawn attention to errors made by police and prosecutors that delayed Levy's charging and left him free to commit further crimes.

Key claims

  • Levy was sentenced to a whole-life tariff for the murders of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins in August 2025. He was also convicted of attacking and raping a third woman, aged 35, in January 2025, who survived and gave testimony against him.
  • The judge imposed two further life sentences, with minimum terms of 12 years, for the rapes, to be served alongside the whole-life orders.
  • Levy had an extensive history of sexual offending and was on the sex offender register. He was first jailed for sexual violence in 2021 and sexually assaulted a female prison officer while in jail.
  • Police made errors that delayed charging Levy for sexual assaults on women on trains, and while on bail he committed more attacks, taking the number to 10 across London. He was charged for most, yet remained free and committed his second murder.
  • The Crown Prosecution Service, the Metropolitan police, and British Transport Police have admitted making errors in the case. The CPS admitted failing to give three court hearings key information that showed the full extent of Levy's potential danger to women.
  • Levy failed to attend three crown court hearings for the train attacks, and the CPS accepts there is no evidence of a warrant being sought for his detention.
  • Two Metropolitan police officers are under investigation by the police watchdog over alleged failings in the supervision of Levy as a person on the sex offender register.

Perspectives

The judge, Mark Lucraft KC, said at sentencing: "You violently raped and attacked [the third victim] in January 2025, and in March 2025 murdered Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, in August 2025 murdered Sheryl Wilkins. You ruthlessly exploited and took advantage of each of these three women. In my judgment the aggravating factors significantly outweigh any mitigating factors." He also said Levy was someone who "appears to have a morbid fascination with sex, rape and crime."

Police and prosecutors have acknowledged failings in the case. The Crown Prosecution Service, the Metropolitan police, and British Transport Police have admitted making errors that left Levy free to commit further crimes.