Partially blind killer attacked two street workers

A partially blind killer attacked two street workers and murdered one of them, a court heard

Sheryl Wilkins, 39, was found dead in a car park near a B&M store in High Road, Tottenham on 24 August.

Simon Levy, 40, was arrested on 4 September and charged with murdering Ms Wilkins.

He was arrested following an investigation into her death by the Met’s Specialist Crime team.

Levy is also charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, intentional strangulation and two counts of rape, in relation to a second victim, who cannot be named, on 21 January 2025.

Levy, of Beaufoy Road, Tottenham, appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from HMP Belmarsh wearing a grey prison tracksuit.

He spoke to confirm his name and date of birth.

Levy is blind in one eye and wears dark glasses due to visual impairment.

Prosecutor Kerry Broome said: ‘The defendant is charged with one charge of murder and four offences relating to the violent rape of a different victim.

‘Both of the victims in this case were sex workers.

‘The lead up to the murder is captured on CCTV footage.

‘At approximately 12.10am on 21 August Sheryl Wilkins met the defendant on Tottenham High Road.

‘There was a brief conversation and then they walked towards B&M car park, a known location for drug use and the supply of sexual services for money.

‘The defendant and the deceased go behind the wall at the back of the car park.

‘There was some toing and froing but in short shortly after 1.45am the defendant appears from behind the wall, pulls his hood up, sees an unknown person and goes back behind the wall.

‘He then leaves the area and having sunglasses on and is seen to walk away.

‘Nobody else approaches the wall and the deceased is not seen again.

‘The body was discovered at 6.30am when two PCs were checking that area due to known criminal behaviour and discovered the deceased face down with her head and upper body covered with a jacket.

‘She had bruising and scratching.

‘The previous rape was a violent attack also a sex worker.

‘She met the defendant and she agreed to provide sexual services. He seems to have refused to pay, he knocked her to the floor, jumped on top of her and she suffered a broken clavicle.

‘He placed his hands over her face and raped her while he suffocated her. She lost consciousness.’

Judge Sarah Munro, KC, remanded Levy in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on 26 November.

A provisional seven week trial date before a High Court judge was set for 14 June.