Met Police downgraded murderer Simon Levy’s risk before two women killed
CPS and British Transport Police also criticised after series of failures left sex offender free to attack
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A jury at the Old Bailey convicted Simon Levy, 40, of the murders of Carmenza Valencia Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins in 2025. The Metropolitan Police had downgraded his risk to women in 2024, a decision now under investigation by the police watchdog. Levy committed the murders while on bail for sexual assaults on London’s public transport network.
The Met acknowledged that Sheryl Wilkins’ life could have been saved. A spokesperson told the BBC that the force had apologised to her family. Levy was monitored by the Met throughout 2024 and 2025 but remained free despite breaking bail conditions and committing further assaults.
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Delays and failures across agencies
British Transport Police (BTP) took more than six months to charge Levy for sexual assaults despite video evidence of attacks. Detective Chief Superintendent Pete Fulton admitted the delay was due to 'incompetence' by two officers, who have since been reassigned. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) also apologised for 'shortcomings' in its efforts to keep Levy in custody.
The Met closed an investigation into a rape Levy committed in January 2025, even though he could have been identified. Carmenza Valencia Trujillo’s death in March 2025 was not initially classified as murder, and the case was not passed to homicide detectives until after Levy killed again. The Met also took three years to charge Levy for assaulting a prison officer.
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It didn’t need to take all of those women for Simon Levy to be finally put into prison… the attacks could have been prevented.
One of Levy’s victims, speaking to the BBC
Levy’s history of offending
Levy was first reported to the Met in 2017 after assaulting a woman at an event in south London. The CPS declined to charge him. In 2021, he was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting two women at public events in 2018. Judge Christopher Hehir refused to impose a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, despite describing the offences as 'extremely serious'.
Upon release in 2023, Levy was classified as a high-risk sex offender. He was briefly returned to prison in May 2024 for breaching licence conditions but was released again in August 2024. The Met and BTP both returned a stolen travel card to him, which he used to travel freely and commit further crimes.
What happens next
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the Met’s decision to downgrade Levy’s risk level. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth described the case as a 'collective system failure'. The Met has not commented on whether internal disciplinary action will follow. Levy’s sentencing date has not been set.
Questions this report answers
+Why was Simon Levy free to commit the murders?
The Metropolitan Police downgraded Levy’s risk to women in 2024, and British Transport Police delayed charging him for sexual assaults despite video evidence. The CPS also failed to secure his remand in custody. These delays allowed him to remain free and commit further offences.
+What is being done about the police failures?
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the Met’s decision to downgrade Levy’s risk. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth called the case a 'collective system failure'. The Met and BTP have acknowledged shortcomings but have not announced disciplinary measures.
+How many women did Simon Levy assault?
Levy was convicted of murdering two women and raping a third. He also sexually assaulted at least ten other women on public transport, as well as a prison officer. The full extent of his offending may never be known.
+When will Simon Levy be sentenced?
Levy’s sentencing date has not been set. He was convicted at the Old Bailey in 2025, but the court has not yet scheduled the hearing to determine his prison term.
WE FILE
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The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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