The head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has issued a public apology for failings that allowed Simon Levy, a convicted sex offender, to be granted bail repeatedly, leading to him committing further violent crimes, including the murders of two women and the rape of a third.
Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, stated he was "deeply sorry" for the errors that left Levy, 40, free to offend despite accusations of multiple sex attacks. Prosecutors failed to inform courts that Levy was under investigation for murder and had a history of preying on women. This occurred even after detectives warned that Levy was considered a danger to the public and at high risk of reoffending if granted bail.
Last year, while on bail, Levy murdered Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, and months later, Sheryl Wilkins, 39. He also nearly killed a third woman during a brutal rape and committed six further sexual assaults on the London Underground. Police now believe his offenses may have escalated over years, from groping on public transport to rape, suffocation, and murder.
The case has ignited public anger and a public dispute between law enforcement and prosecution services. Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley criticized the court service, CPS, and probation services for not acknowledging their failures. He highlighted a case where a sex offender was bailed to an address near his victim and noted that officers routinely deal with prolific offenders who are repeatedly bailed.
Sir Mark also pointed to the Prison Service, stating Levy should not have been released in February 2023, given he had sexually assaulted a guard while imprisoned for previous sex offenses. He further criticized the Probation Service for failing to adequately monitor Levy, who had a fascination with notorious offenders and amassed a collection of related newspaper clippings.
Responding to the criticism, Parkinson acknowledged that the criminal justice system had failed to stop Levy. He stated that while the system is under significant pressure, such failures cannot be allowed to recur. "The criminal justice system failed to stop Simon Levy," Parkinson said. "And although we recognise it is under significant pressure, it cannot be allowed to fail again."
Parkinson emphasized that no single agency can resolve these issues alone and that police, prosecutors, and courts must collaborate to identify risks and act decisively. "The public do not want to see different parts of the system blaming each other," he added. He assured victims that their concerns have been heard and that changes are being implemented.
Following Levy's conviction, which resulted in a whole life sentence, the police watchdog announced an investigation into two police officers for misconduct. British Transport Police, which also repeatedly bailed Levy, has declined to refer itself to the watchdog. The CPS has not disclosed how many of its staff face disciplinary action.
Levy has been convicted of 13 sexual assaults between 2018 and 2025, in addition to the two murders and one rape. Sir Mark warned that other dangerous offenders might be slipping through the cracks, citing issues with electronic tag breaches not resulting in consequences. Currently, London has 10,800 registered sex offenders, a number that increases by approximately 100 every three months.