Fraser Knight

Simon Levy was convicted of murdering two women, raping another and committing 11 sexual assaults during a seven-year period in which he repeatedly offended on and around London's transport network. The timeline details failures by police and the courts, including delays in identifying him, repeated releases on bail, missed court appearances without arrest warrants, and his continued possession of a stolen TfL Oyster card. Levy committed further sexual assaults while under investigation for murder and on bail before being arrested and charged in connection with the deaths of Sheryl Wilkins and Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo. The End Violence Against Women Coalition said agencies must answer serious questions, while police acknowledged that the criminal justice system had collectively failed.

Simon Levy, 40, has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins and raping a woman twice. The offences occurred during a seven-year campaign of sexual assaults across London, including attacks on the Underground, while Levy was under investigation or on bail. British Transport Police twice sought his detention after charging him, but magistrates granted bail; he subsequently committed another murder. The Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police have acknowledged serious failings, while the Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and BTP has taken internal disciplinary action. Campaigners and Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said the case exposed systemic failures that allowed Levy to continue offending and demanded urgent answers.

Crime in London has fallen significantly over the past year, with major reductions in phone theft, personal robberies and vehicle offences, particularly in Westminster’s West End. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley attributes the improvement to targeted policing, technological tools and stronger local partnerships. Mayor Sadiq Khan highlights the city’s safety amid rising tourism and rejects negative portrayals from online figures. Security leaders in the West End call for continued momentum and tougher sentencing for prolific offenders. The period also sees rising hate crime reports and increased caseloads for Counter Terrorism Police as national crime statistics for England and Wales are awaited.