Simon Levy Given Whole Life Sentence After Murders Of Two Women
Serial sex offender Simon Levy has been sentenced to a whole life term after being convicted of murdering two women and raping another, bringing an end to a case that has raised serious questions about how he was repeatedly allowed to remain free.
Levy, 40, was convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Carmenza Valencia Trujillo, 53, in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins, 39, five months later. He was also convicted of raping and seriously assaulting another woman in January 2025.
The judge, Mark Lucraft KC, told Levy that he had ruthlessly exploited women for his own sexual gratification and had a history of sexual offending dating back several years. The court concluded that the seriousness of his crimes justified the rare whole life tariff, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
The case has triggered renewed scrutiny of police and prosecution failures after Levy was repeatedly released or left without effective intervention despite his escalating record of sexual offending.
Levy had previously been convicted of sexual assaults and was known to authorities as a sex offender. He was also arrested over allegations involving women on public transport and was later investigated in connection with more serious offences.
After the first murder, Levy was arrested on suspicion of killing Valencia Trujillo but was released because investigators said they did not initially have sufficient evidence to charge him. He subsequently continued offending before murdering Wilkins in August 2025.
The surviving victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, gave evidence about the attack in which she was raped and seriously assaulted. Her testimony proved important in securing Levy's conviction and was praised by both the judge and investigators.
The case has prompted criticism of several parts of the criminal justice system. The Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and Crown Prosecution Service have all acknowledged shortcomings in their handling of Levy, while the Independent Office for Police Conduct is examining aspects of the police response.
The Crown Prosecution Service has also apologised for failures connected to bail hearings. The Director of Public Prosecutions said prosecutors failed to provide courts with important information about investigations involving Levy, despite relevant information already being available within the system.
The Metropolitan Police commissioner has separately questioned why Levy was released after he sexually assaulted a female prison officer, arguing that the case demonstrates wider problems with how dangerous offenders are managed across the justice system.
The families of both murdered women attended the sentencing and delivered emotional statements about the devastating impact of their deaths. The case has also renewed calls for stronger safeguards when dealing with repeat sexual offenders and for authorities to ensure that critical information is properly shared between police, prosecutors and courts.
Levy's whole life sentence means he will never be released from prison. The case is now expected to remain under scrutiny as investigations continue into the decisions and failures that allowed his offending to escalate.
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