A British man, Simon Levy, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, and Sheryl Wilkins, 39, and the rape and near-fatal suffocation of a third woman. The sentencing follows his conviction at the Old Bailey, where the court heard how Levy had preyed on women for years, with many of his offenses occurring while he was on bail.
Levy, 40, was previously convicted of 13 sexual assaults between 2018 and 2025. Detectives believe his attacks escalated from groping women on the London Underground to rape, suffocation, and ultimately murder. During the sentencing, Sheryl Wilkins' sister, Lindsey Hicks, addressed Levy directly, stating, "I hope you rot in prison for the rest of your life." She described her sister as "a beautiful soul who was cruelly taken away" and said the family's pain had been "unbearable."
Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo's daughter, Nazly Johana Fuenmayor Valencia, told the court that her life had been "ripped apart" and that an "emptiness that can't be filled" remained. Sheryl Wilkins' mother, Mary Wilkins, stated in a written statement that Levy had "completely destroyed our lives" and that Sheryl, who lost her life the day before her 40th birthday, had likely saved countless other women.
Systemic Failures and Missed Opportunities
Revelations following Levy's conviction highlight significant failures by police and probation services in monitoring him. Despite a history of sexual violence dating back to 2018 and repeated arrests for sexual assaults and even murder, Levy was released on bail four times. British Transport Police, the Metropolitan Police, and magistrates have been criticized for failing to recognize the danger he posed, allowing him to continue stalking the transport network.
While on bail, Levy carried out at least six sexual assaults on the Tube. He also raped and suffocated a sex worker, leaving her near death, before committing the two murders over a two-year period. Reports indicate that women had been reporting Levy for rape and sexual assault for nearly a decade, but authorities failed to secure convictions or detain him.
Levy was first jailed in 2021 for three years for sex attacks at Notting Hill Carnival and a Camden street party in 2018. Even while incarcerated, he attacked a prison officer in 2022. Upon his early release in February 2023, Levy told probation staff that sex workers offered him services, claiming he rarely left home due to an eye condition. However, by October 2023, while still on license, he began targeting women on the Tube, exploiting crowded conditions.
Levy's collection of newspaper clippings about notorious offenders like John Worboys, Jeffrey Epstein, and Harvey Weinstein reportedly went unnoticed by supervising officers. In November 2024, he was arrested for two Tube sex attacks, but a British Transport Police officer delayed identification checks, extending his bail on January 21, 2025. The following night, Levy committed his first rape, brutally attacking a sex worker and leaving her near death.
On March 17, 2025, Levy murdered Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo. Her body was found in a Southwark stairwell, with evidence of neck compression and smothering. Despite being arrested on April 1, 2025, for her murder, Levy had lied to police about not leaving his home. Scotland Yard released him on bail due to the cause of death being initially undetermined. British Transport Police also delayed further action, extending his bail.
Levy escalated his offending, carrying out four more Tube attacks before his next court appearance. He was charged with five Tube sex assaults on May 2, 2025, and remanded overnight, only to be released on bail by magistrates despite being suspected of murder. He subsequently failed to appear in court for a sixth sex assault charge. After being spotted on the Tube and charged with breaching bail conditions, he was again granted bail by the court.
On August 28, 2025, Levy murdered Sheryl Wilkins, leaving her body in a location near his home. He was arrested on September 5, 2025, after being identified by facial recognition cameras. In February 2026, Levy was convicted of 11 sexual assaults that occurred between April 2022 and May 2025. The case has drawn calls for a public inquiry into the handling of the offender by multiple agencies.
