Victim feared she would die when sex offender raped her, court hears

A woman has told how she feared she was going to die when an 'evil' sex offender raped and suffocated her before he killed two other victims.

Convicted sex offender Simon Levy is accused of killing two women and raping a third victim in an eight-month rampage last year.

Police arrested the 40-year-old after the first murder in March last year, but he was released and left free to carry out a second killing four months later, a court has heard.

The 'predatory serial' attacker has already been convicted of carrying out 13 sex attacks on women over a seven-year period, jurors have been told.

Today, his alleged surviving victim told the Old Bailey how the 'evil' defendant jumped on top of her, breaking her collarbone before grabbing her throat and raping her in January 2025.

The 35-year-old sex worker, who cannot be named, said Levy approached her in the street holding a few £10 notes asking for some 'business', adding: 'You would never think this man would be so evil.'

She told police that the partially blind defendant grabbed the back of her neck for a kiss as he told her: 'Don't worry, I got you. I got money. I'll take you afterwards for dinner, don't worry.'

But seconds later he jumped on her with 'all his weight', knocking her to the floor breaking her clavicle and banging her head, she said.

A court sketch of convicted sex offender Simon Levy, who is accused of killing two women and raping a third victim in an eight-month rampage last year

The body of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo was found in a stairwell of a disused block of flats in Southwark, south-east London, on March 17

Levy allegedly killed Sheryl Wilkins and left her body in the same location as the earlier rape attack, which is close to the defendant's home

'I was a bit dizzy,' she told police.

'He put his hand over my mouth, put hands on my neck.

'I was kicking my legs under him and I am fighting for my life.'

Sobbing, the victim said she managed to wriggle onto her stomach, but Levy held onto her arms as he raped her, telling her: 'Shut up, be quiet.'

When Levy allegedly put his finger down her throat, the victim recalled thinking, 'I think I am going to die. I could not breathe.

'I will never forget the smell of his hands – salty, smelly.'

Seconds later she blacked out.

When she recovered consciousness around ten minutes later, Levy had already fled the scene, leaving her 'as good as for dead' bleeding in a car park in Tottenham, north London, jurors heard.

The woman later went on to identify Levy in an identity parade.

'I'll never forget his f****** face, I hate him so much', she told police.

Two months later Levy allegedly struck again, killing another woman before fleeing leaving her face down.

The body of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo was found in a stairwell of a disused block of flats in Southwark, south-east London, on March 17.

A pipe smeared with the defendant's blood was found next to the victim and his DNA was found on her body.

Levy was arrested on April 1 over the death of the 53-year-old drug user, who had suffered a neck compression and facial injuries.

But police released the suspect after her cause of death was deemed to be 'unascertained'.

Four months later, the convicted sex offender allegedly killed Sheryl Wilkins and left her body in the same location as the earlier rape attack, which is close to the defendant's home.

The 39-year-old was found face down with 83 injuries to her face and head, upper body and arms and legs.

While her cause of death was considered 'unascertained', Prosecutor Tom Little, KC, said it could have been caused by the smothering of the nose and mouth, neck compression or an assailant compressing the victim's chest.

Describing Levy as a 'predatory serial attacker', Mr Little told jurors that Levy had carried out 13 sex assaults between July 2018 and May 2025, including six attacks around the time of the rape and first murder.

Levy denies the two murders, claiming that he had consensual sex with both women.

He also denies two charges of rape, grievous bodily harm with intent, and non-fatal suffocation.

The trial continues.