Simon Levy, 40, was convicted of murdering two women in London after police and prosecution errors, including failures to disclose his past convictions and arrest, left him free on bail, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- An Old Bailey jury found Simon Levy, 40, guilty of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins five months later.
- The CPS admitted errors at three court hearings in May, June and August 2025 that ended with Levy remaining free.
- Errors reportedly included failing to mention Levy's arrest for Valencia-Trujillo's murder and no record of his past sexual assault convictions or a 2024 rape suspicion.
- By May 2025 police wanted Levy remanded, fearing a 'high risk of reoffending' with his crimes 'escalating'.
- Levy failed to attend three crown court hearings, and the CPS accepts there is no evidence a warrant was sought for his detention.
Catastrophic errors by police and prosecutors left a prolific and proven sex offender free before he murdered two women in London, according to the Guardian. On Friday, an Old Bailey jury found Simon Levy, 40, guilty of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins five months later.
The Crown Prosecution Service admitted there were errors at three court hearings in May, June and August 2025, which ended with Levy remaining free. The CPS would not specify publicly what those errors were, but a source authorised to speak for the organisation said they included failing to mention that Levy had been arrested for Valencia-Trujillo’s murder.
The same source said the CPS could find no record or mention of Levy’s past sexual assault convictions, nor that he was a suspect in a 2024 rape, when bail was being considered, the Guardian reported.
In a statement, the CPS said: “We accept there was relevant information regarding bail that was not provided to the court when bail applications were being considered. Our actions fell short of the standards that victims, families and the public are entitled to expect … We could and should have taken a more robust approach to representations about bail.”
By May 2025, police wanted Levy remanded, fearing he posed a “high risk of reoffending” with his crimes “escalating”, according to the Guardian. Delays to sexual assault charges and failures to report his past convictions in court hearings gave Levy the chance to attack more women.
Levy also failed to attend three crown court hearings connected to earlier train attacks, and the CPS accepts there is no evidence of a warrant being sought for his detention. For two of the hearings he claimed illness, the Guardian reported.
Why it matters
The case raises serious questions about how bail decisions are made and whether failures to share critical information between police and prosecutors can put the public at risk. Two women were killed after a proven offender remained free despite warnings that he posed a high risk of reoffending.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Simon Levy and what was he convicted of?
Simon Levy, 40, was found guilty by an Old Bailey jury of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins five months later, according to the Guardian.
What errors did the CPS admit?
The CPS admitted that relevant bail information was not provided to the court during bail applications. A source said this included failing to mention Levy's arrest for Valencia-Trujillo's murder and no record of his past sexual assault convictions or a 2024 rape suspicion.
Did authorities know Levy was dangerous?
By May 2025, police wanted Levy remanded, fearing he posed a 'high risk of reoffending' with his crimes 'escalating', according to the Guardian.