Convicted rapist and double murderer Simon Levy has been sentenced to a whole-life order, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison, after being found guilty of murdering two women and raping a third. The 40-year-old, from Tottenham, north London, was convicted of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, and Sheryl Wilkins, 39, as well as raping and violently attacking another woman.

The sentencing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday brought an end to a case that has raised serious questions about repeated failures by police, prosecutors and the wider criminal justice system.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC said Levy had "ruthlessly exploited" the women for his own sexual gratification and described him as someone with a "morbid fascination with sex, rape and crime."

He told Levy: "You will be in prison for life."

WHO WERE CARMENZA VALENCIA-TRUJILLO AND SHERYL WILKINS?

Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo was a 53-year-old grandmother from Colombia. She was killed in March 2025 and was found dead in a largely abandoned block of flats on the Aylesbury Estate in south-east London.

Her daughter, Nazly Johana Fuenmayor Valencia, described her mother as a "beautiful woman" who loved animals.

Speaking about the impact of her death, she said: "There’s an emptiness that can’t be filled. We have been living a nightmare we cannot wake up from. We don’t know why she was taken from us. The rest of our lives will never be the same."

Sheryl Wilkins was a 39-year-old mother of four who was murdered in August 2025, five months after Carmenza's death. She was found behind a car park wall close to Tottenham High Road, north London.

Sheryl was just a day short of her 40th birthday when she was murdered. Her family described her as a much-loved mother, daughter, sister and friend.

Her mother, Mary Wilkins, said: "There will never be enough words to explain what it feels like to lose a child. You took away our beautiful daughter Sheryl. She was a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend and a beloved family member. She had four beautiful children."

Sheryl's sister Lindsey Hicks also addressed Levy in court.

She said: "You, Simon Levy, have destroyed our lives. Sheryl was a beautiful soul … The pain you have put her through is unbearable. I hope you rot in prison for the rest of your life."

Lindsey later told Levy: "But know this, you lose. We get to leave here today knowing we will keep Sheryl alive by sharing memories about her and living for her. We will continue to live as a loving family through our loss, supporting each other. You don't get to take that away. I hope you rot in prison for the rest of your life."

THE SURVIVOR WHO HELPED BRING LEVY TO JUSTICE

Before the two murders, Levy attacked another woman in January 2025. The woman, known in court as ED to protect her identity, survived a brutal sexual assault in the same Tottenham area where Wilkins was later killed. She told the court she was a mother and classical pianist from eastern Europe who had been trafficked into the UK and was using drugs to cope with pain.

She described Levy as a "monster" and said he had attempted to steal her "soul and dignity". Despite what happened to her, she told the court: "I will play music again and smile."

The survivor's evidence ultimately proved crucial to the case. DCI Neil John said: "I must also commend the victim-survivor who showed considerable bravery and presented vital evidence in court. Her testimony was crucial." Judge Lucraft also praised her courage in coming to court and giving evidence.

HOW DID POLICE AND PROSECUTORS FAIL?

The case has prompted intense scrutiny of the handling of Levy before the murders.

Levy already had a significant history of sexual offending. He had been on the sex offenders' register and had previously served a prison sentence for sexual assaults.

Months before Carmenza was killed, British Transport Police had arrested Levy over sexual assaults against women on trains. Errors delayed the charging process, and he remained free. He was subsequently involved in further attacks and was repeatedly released on bail. Most significantly, Levy was on bail as a suspect in connection with Carmenza's murder when he went on to kill Sheryl.

Police had said there was insufficient evidence to charge him with the first murder at that stage.

The Metropolitan Police has acknowledged that there were missed opportunities.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth described the situation as a "collective system failure", saying it left Levy "free to go on offending in this awful manner."

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley also said police had repeatedly warned that Levy was too dangerous to be on the streets, while acknowledging that the force had responsibilities of its own.

The Crown Prosecution Service also admitted failings. According to reporting from the Guardian, prosecutors failed to provide key information at three court hearings that demonstrated the full extent of the danger Levy posed to women.

Two Metropolitan Police officers are currently under investigation by the police watchdog over the case.

The British Transport Police officer blamed for delays in charging Levy was moved out of investigations, while a supervisor was verbally reprimanded.

There were also concerns about Levy's risk assessment. The Met downgraded his assessment from high to medium in August 2024, with his blindness in one eye among the factors considered.

Women's rights campaigner Harriet Wistrich, of the Centre for Women's Justice, described the failures as deeply concerning.

She said: "The catalogue of combined failures in this case provides terrifying evidence that our criminal justice system is in a state of collapse."

She added: "Given the series of catastrophic failures by the Met police on top of an appalling history of police failures … we must conclude that the Met police are not fit for purpose."

WHY IS A WHOLE-LIFE ORDER SO RARE?

A whole-life order is the most severe prison sentence available for an adult convicted of murder in England and Wales.

Unlike an ordinary life sentence, where a judge sets a minimum term after which a prisoner may become eligible to have their case considered for release, a whole-life order means the prisoner will never be released on parole.

Sky News reports that there are now more than 70 people serving whole-life sentences, including notorious killers such as Rosemary West, Levi Bellfield, Wayne Couzens and Lucy Letby.

The Guardian puts the current number at 76, illustrating just how small the group is compared with the wider prison population.

Whole-life orders are reserved for the most serious murders and are particularly associated with cases involving multiple killings, extreme planning or particularly serious aggravating circumstances.

Levy's sentence reflects the court's finding that his sexual violence was closely connected to the murders. Prosecutor Tom Little KC said the sexual violence was "inextricably interwoven with the killing" of both women.

Levy was also given two further life sentences with minimum terms of 12 years for the two rapes, to run alongside the whole-life orders.

'HE WILL NEVER BE FREE AGAIN'

As Levy was sentenced, his victims' families watched from the courtroom.

Sheryl's mother, Mary, said she believed her daughter's death had ultimately prevented Levy from hurting other women.

She said:

"You have done this before and wouldn’t have stopped. Our Sheryl has ended your chances of hurting anyone else. She lost her life to do this, but we truly believe Sheryl has saved countless women from being subjected to your disgusting and horrendous acts. I hope you never walk the streets again as you are a threat to all women."

Levy stood in the dock emotionless as the sentence was handed down. He will now spend the rest of his life behind bars.

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