Met Police Chief Admits Mistakes Over Double Murderer Simon Levy

The head of London's Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, has defended the force's investigation into double murderer Simon Levy while acknowledging that mistakes were made in handling the case.

Levy's Crimes

Levy, 40, was on bail and under police monitoring when he murdered Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins five months later, and violently raped a third woman. On Wednesday, he was handed a whole-life sentence at the Old Bailey, meaning he will never be released. Both the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have apologised for a series of decisions that left the convicted sex offender free to commit further attacks.

Commissioner's Defence

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Mark said that suggestions the force had not tried to build a case against Levy over his first murder were simply not true. He argued that detectives had done serious work but did not have enough evidence for a charge. He called for public debate to be better informed, acknowledging that mistakes had been made while rejecting the most severe criticisms, including those made by Labour MP Jess Phillips.

Oversight Investigation

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently examining how Levy was managed during the four years from his first conviction for sexual assault in September 2021 to his final arrest in September 2025. The review is expected to determine whether systemic failures contributed to the murders.