Simon Levy, a convicted serial sex offender, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a rare whole-life order after being found guilty of two murders and an attempted murder in north London. The sentencing came following a five-week trial at the Old Bailey, where Levy was convicted of killing Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins five months later. He was also found guilty of attacking another woman and leaving her for dead in January 2025 in the same car park where Wilkins’s body was discovered.
The case has drawn significant criticism of the criminal justice system, with Sir Mark Rowley, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, highlighting systemic failings in the handling of Levy’s case. Rowley stated that police repeatedly sought custody remand for Levy, describing him as “too dangerous to be on the streets,” but said that prosecutors and courts frequently granted bail instead. He emphasized a broader pattern in which dangerous offenders, including knife carriers and sex offenders, are increasingly being released on bail rather than remanded in custody, calling for the justice system to assume a greater share of responsibility in protecting communities.
Levy’s history of offending dates back to 2018, with sexual assaults committed at public events in London. He was jailed for three years in 2021 after sexually assaulting two women and further assaulted a female prison officer while incarcerated. Despite this, Levy was released partway through his sentence in 2023. Following release, Levy was linked to multiple incidents, including groping a woman on the London Underground; however, he was not identified as a suspect until years later.
Levy had served the remainder of his sentence and was placed on the sex offenders register in May 2024, initially classified as high-risk and monitored by the Metropolitan Police. After being released again in August 2024, his risk level was downgraded despite subsequent involvement in serious criminal activities, including becoming a suspect in murder and sexual assault cases.
In early 2025, Levy was released on bail on several occasions despite facing multiple charges. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has admitted to procedural errors, including not opposing bail in one hearing and failing to provide all relevant information to the court at another. Additionally, Levy missed several court hearings without a warrant being issued for his arrest. Notably, less than two weeks after failing to appear at a hearing on August 11, 2025, he committed the murder of Sheryl Wilkins.
Victims’ family members were present in court during sentencing, expressing grief and condemning Levy’s actions. Lindsey Hicks, Wilkins’s sister, described the impact of the crime on her family and expressed fear over public safety following Levy’s prior offenses. Mary Wilkins, the victim’s mother, said Levy would have continued harming others had he not been imprisoned. Nazly Johana Fuenmayor-Valencia, daughter of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, spoke emotionally about the trauma she has endured since her mother’s death.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the actions of two Metropolitan Police officers, a constable and a detective sergeant, over their handling of Levy’s case. The inquiry seeks to determine whether there was misconduct in the management of his risk and the decisions that allowed him to remain free prior to the murders.