'Evil' serial sex predator Simon Levy guilty of murdering two women and raping third

A prolific sexual predator has been found guilty of murdering two women and violently raping a third amid a string of missed chances to stop him.

Simon Levy, 40, left the rape victim for dead in January last year before going on to kill Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, two months later and 39-year-old Sheryl Wilkins five months after that in August 2025.

The Old Bailey heard how the Metropolitan Police closed the rape investigation without formally interviewing the woman and arrested Levy, who was already on the sex offenders' register, over the first murder but released him under investigation.

By the time of the second murder he had also been arrested three times by the British Transport Police (BTP) over a string of sexual assaults on London's public transport network, but was first granted police bail, then twice bailed by magistrates despite being charged with multiple serious offences.

Levy failed to attend his crown court hearing just 13 days before he killed Ms Wilkins - but the Crown Prosecution Service did not apply for an arrest warrant after his lawyers said he had a mental health issue.

After his first arrest in November 2024, BTP handed back a stolen bus driver's Oyster card, which allowed free travel, and was used by Levy to get to and from the scene of the first murder.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has apologised for its failings, while the Met has referred itself to the police watchdog to investigate if more should have been done to stop Levy.

Levy, who did not give evidence at his trial, denied two counts of murder as well as two charges of rape, grievous bodily harm with intent, and non-fatal suffocation against the surviving woman.

Wearing sunglasses in the dock, after losing sight in his right eye, he showed no emotion as the verdicts were read out, while members of both murder victims' families wept and held hands in the well of the court.

Levy could face a whole life term when he is sentenced next Wednesday.

Attacks on vulnerable women

Prosecutor Tom Little KC told a jury Levy carried out a "series of attacks on vulnerable women", and that he "killed two women and left the third for dead". All three were sex workers.

He said both murders were sexually motivated and a document found on Levy's computer entitled "my sex record" revealed his "attitude to women".

Levy lived in "a world of sex offending, a world of rape, strangulation, suffocation, violence and also dishonesty", Mr Little said.

It can now be reported that Levy was jailed earlier this year for six years, with a three-year extended licence period, after he was found guilty of 11 counts of sexual assault between 14 April 2022 and 29 May 2025.

The first victim was a prison officer at HMP Brixton in 2022, where Levy was serving a three-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting one woman at a party and another at Notting Hill carnival in 2018.

He had been jailed for three years in September 2021 over the 2018 attacks and was released from prison in February 2023.

But Levy was recalled to prison in May the following year after being arrested on suspicion of rape, although the case was closed due to a lack of evidence and he was again freed at the end of his licence period in August 2024.

Prosecutor Will Martin told his Inner London Crown Court trial: "Levy's desire to assault women seems to be on the verge of compulsive or pathological."

Attacked 10 women on busy trains

Levy sexually assaulted 10 women on busy rush-hour underground or overground trains between 24 October 2023 and 29 May 2025.

Judge Martin Evans KC said he carried out "a deliberate, persistent and carefully orchestrated campaign of targeted assaults on women" over a three-year period.

He was first arrested by the British Transport Police on 4 November 2024 over one of the attacks, but granted police bail, while a "bus operator" Oyster card in his possession was returned to him after officers did not realise it was lost or stolen.

An identity parade was not arranged until February 2025.

'I never thought this man would be so evil'

The Old Bailey heard Levy raped the surviving woman, who cannot be identified because she is the victim of a sexual offence, in a car park near his home in Tottenham, north London, on 21 January last year.

She told police: "I never thought this man would be so evil," after she was left with a broken collarbone when Levy bore down on her with all his weight.

The woman first made the allegations to the Met after she was arrested for an unrelated matter days later - including a description of Levy and where he lived - but was withdrawing from drugs and deemed unfit for interview.

She was arrested again in May 2025, but released before she could be questioned, and spoken to by another officer later that month, but the investigation was dropped in June without her being formally interviewed.

Two months after the rape, on 17 March, Ms Valencia-Trujillo's body was found in the stairwell of Wendover House, a large, mostly condemned block of flats in Southwark, south-east London.

Levy, whose DNA was found on her body, was arrested in possession of the Oyster card, which he had used to travel to the scene and interviewed by the Met on 1 April - but released under investigation while one of seven suspects.

He was then arrested by the BTP on 1 May last year, when the card - last used on 16 June last year - was again returned to him.

Courts granted bail

Levy was charged with five sexual offences and police asked prosecutors to apply for remand, telling them he was also accused of rape and murder.

But he was granted bail at Highbury Magistrates' Court, which had been agreed by the CPS, including a condition not to travel on public transport during rush hours.

Levy was charged with a further offence, then arrested the following month again and charged with two more counts, but was bailed by the same court on 21 June after prosecutors applied for remand. The CPS now accepts not all relevant information was put before the court.

He failed to attend a plea and case management hearing at Inner London Crown Court on 11 August but no arrest warrant was sought - despite him not attending two previous hearings.

Levy went on to murder Ms Wilkins in the same location as the January rape in the early hours of 24 August.

CCTV footage shown to the jury captured the last moment she was seen alive, walking behind a wall in the service yard of the B&M car park with Levy, who is wearing a dark hooded top and sunglasses.

CCTV showing Simon Levy with Sheryl Wilkins the last time she was seen alive:

Police used live facial recognition technology to identify Levy, who was arrested on 3 September last year and remanded in custody after being charged with the murders and rape.

Speaking outside the Old Bailey flanked by members of the victims' families, Met Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: "Simon Levy is a dangerous and predatory offender. His crimes were calculated, cruel and deeply disturbing."

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it is investigating the management of Levy from his first conviction in 2021 up to his arrest in September 2025, while two Met Police officers are currently under investigation.

'Sorry for shortcomings'

Lisa Ramsarran, CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: "We recognise the level of concern around this case and we have carried out a detailed review of our handling. We accept there was relevant information regarding bail that was not provided to the court, when bail applications were being considered.

"Our actions fell short of the standards that victims, families and the public are entitled to expect. In particular, there were points where we could and should have taken a more robust approach to representations about bail, based on the information available.

"We cannot know what decisions the courts would have made had different or stronger representations been advanced. But we recognise our responsibility and we are sorry for the shortcomings we have identified."

BTP said the initial investigating officer has since returned to uniformed duties, while the supervising Detective Sergeant received advice and guidance and carries out a non-investigative role.

The force's Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle called for any other victims to come forward.

"It is clear that opportunities to expedite the investigation were missed and we have amended our procedures to address these issues to ensure that repeat offenders are dealt with expeditiously, and that linked offences are prioritised more effectively," he said.

Policing minister Sarah Jones described the case as "horrifying" and commended "the survivor who bravely came forward and helped bring this monster to justice".

"The fact that Levy was able to inflict such devastating harm after being freed by police and the courts is deeply concerning. It raises serious questions that require urgent answers," she added.

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