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Serial Sex Offender Arrested After Two Women Were Murdered Following Authorities Failure to Keep Him in Custody
Levy, 40, was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday of murdering two women, Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, and Sheryl Wilkins, 39.
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He was also convicted of raping another woman and carrying out a serious sexual assault that left her with a broken collarbone.
Valencia-Trujillo, a grandmother, was killed in March 2025, while mother-of-four Wilkins was murdered in August of the same year.
Authorities have acknowledged several failures in their handling of Levy, including decisions that allowed him to remain on bail after he had already been suspected of serious offences.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth of the Metropolitan Police said mistakes made during hearings at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court in May and June 2025 contributed to Levy remaining free and ultimately enabled him to kill again.
He said: “There’s a collective system failure here, which has left Levy free to go on offending in this awful manner and left these victims at risk from his prolific offending, and that’s something which ourselves and colleagues across the criminal justice system will need to reflect on.
“His behaviour is self-evidently that of a very prolific serial sexual predator who seeks his sexual gratification in a number of ways, whether it’s opportunistically offending against strangers on the Underground system, or whether it’s targeting sex workers in the most horrific and harrowing fashion.
“Ultimately what we’re talking about here is a serial sexual predator who’s finally been brought to justice, but ultimately too late to help the victims of his tragic acts.”
A separate investigation is now examining whether Levy may have attacked additional women during periods when he was repeatedly released on bail.
Levy had already come to the attention of authorities several times before the two murders.
He was jailed in 2021 after being convicted of groping two women in 2018. One incident happened at Notting Hill Carnival, while another took place at a party in Camden.
While serving his sentence in 2022, Levy sexually assaulted a prison guard. Despite this, he was released the following year.
In November 2024, British Transport Police arrested Levy over four sexual assaults on the Tube. He was later convicted in connection with those offences.
However, a delay in arranging an identification parade meant the case was not progressed quickly enough. The parade eventually took place in April 2025, leaving Levy free during the period in which he allegedly raped another woman and murdered Valencia-Trujillo.
One woman who survived an attack by Levy told authorities that she had been raped and knew where her attacker lived.
Despite this information, she was not formally interviewed until after Levy had allegedly killed two women.
The delays have become a major focus of the investigation into how the case was handled.
There were also concerns over the information provided to the courts during Levy’s bail hearings.
Following Valencia-Trujillo’s death, Levy was released on bail at hearings in May and June 2025.
The CPS acknowledged that it did not oppose bail at the first hearing. At the second hearing, the prosecutor failed to provide the court with all the relevant information needed for the magistrates to properly consider whether Levy should remain in custody.
Levy subsequently missed three Crown Court hearings for different reasons, yet an arrest warrant was not requested.
On August 11, he attended another hearing. Less than two weeks later, Wilkins was murdered.
The two murders were not isolated incidents.
Between the deaths of Valencia-Trujillo and Wilkins, Levy was accused of carrying out sexual assaults against six women on London’s Tube and Overground networks.
As a convicted sex offender, he was subject to monitoring by police and probation officers. However, when officers visited him at the home he shared with his mother in March and July 2025, Levy reportedly claimed that he rarely went outside and spent his time watching YouTube and films.
Levy had also lost sight in one eye following an attack in May 2024. He used his partial sight as part of his explanation for his behaviour on crowded trains, previously claiming that his condition and the movement of passengers caused him to lose his balance and accidentally grope women.
He was ultimately linked to the sexual assault of 10 women on London’s transport network between October 2023 and May 2025.
One of Levy’s victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, described the shock of discovering that the man she had reported was already known to authorities.
She told the court: ‘After reporting the sexual assaults, it wasn’t long before I learned that my attacker was already known to the police for sexual violence and is a convicted sex offender.
“You could not begin to understand the horror I felt at hearing this.’
London’s Victims’ Commissioner Andrea Simon said she was appalled by the litany of failures to manage a prolific offender like Levy.
She told BBC News: “I’m keen now to see how we can uncover every single key moment that there was to assess the harm that Levy posed to women by every justice agency involved, not just the police, but every critical opportunity there was to intervene.
There should have been a far more robust assessment of risk’ at potential key moments such as when he was reported to prison and was released on licence, she suggested.
“Practitioners are trained to identify this and recognise when offenders need to be managed under a higher level” she told the BBC.
“Multi-agency public protection arrangements are meant to bring organisations such as the police, probation and prison service together so they are all working closely to manage the risk of offenders”
The jury spent 13 hours deliberating before finding Levy guilty of the charges.
He was convicted of two counts of rape, grievous bodily harm with intent and the non-fatal smothering of the surviving woman, who suffered a broken collarbone.
Relatives of the victims broke down in tears when the verdicts were announced.
Levy, who is blind in one eye and appeared in court wearing sunglasses and a pointed beard, showed little reaction as the convictions were delivered.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC ordered that Levy remain in custody and adjourned sentencing until Wednesday, August 12.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John of Scotland Yard described Levy as a dangerous offender and called on anyone else who may have been attacked by him to contact authorities.
Speaking outside the Old Bailey, he said: ‘Simon Levy is a dangerous and predatory offender. His crimes were calculated, cruel and deeply disturbing.
“Throughout the trial, he has shown complete disregard for the victims and victim-survivor, despite being fully aware of the lasting and devastating impact of his actions”
The murders of Valencia-Trujillo and Wilkins were carried out in different locations in London.
Valencia-Trujillo was found dead inside a largely abandoned block of flats on the Aylesbury estate in south-east London, while Wilkins was found behind a car park wall near Tottenham High Road in north London.
Both women were suffocated during attacks that prosecutors described as sexually motivated.
Valencia-Trujillo’s children remembered their mother as a woman who was full of energy and personality. She became a grandmother in 2024 and was described as a much-loved member of her community.
She was also known for her love of salsa dancing.
Wilkins’ family similarly remembered her as a much-loved woman whose absence continues to be felt by those who knew her.
The case has now prompted renewed scrutiny of how agencies identify and manage offenders considered capable of causing serious harm, particularly when several warnings and previous convictions are already on record.
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Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon Becomes King Following Death of King Harald V
Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon has ascended the throne following the death of his father, King Harald V, who died at the age of 89. Get the latest updates on our WhatsApp channel.
Haakon, who is now King Haakon VIII, took over as monarch shortly after his father’s death at Oslo University Hospital on Friday morning.
Harald V was Europe’s oldest monarch before his death and was also a distant cousin of Britain’s King Charles.
Haakon’s wife and Norway’s new queen, Mette-Marit, has come under attention over messages she reportedly exchanged with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Haakon’s stepson has also been convicted of rape.
Haakon is Harald V’s youngest child and became heir apparent in 1991 following the death of his grandfather, King Olav V.
At the time, Norway operated under an agnatic-cognatic succession system, which gave male heirs priority in the line of succession.
Although Norway later changed its constitution to introduce absolute primogeniture, meaning the eldest child could inherit the throne regardless of gender, Haakon remained heir to the throne.
His sister, Princess Märtha Louise, is currently third in the line of succession, behind Haakon’s daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and his son, Prince Sverre Magnus.
Ingrid Alexandra, 22, is expected to become Norway’s future queen and would be the country’s first female monarch since Queen Margaret, who ruled over the Kalmar Union, comprising Norway, Denmark and Sweden, between 1387 and 1412.
Despite growing up as a member of Norway’s royal family, Haakon has previously spoken about feeling uncomfortable with the level of attention surrounding his position.
During his childhood in the 1980s, he preferred to remain away from the spotlight.
His approach to education also differed from that of his father and grandfather.
After graduating from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, Haakon went on to study at the University of California, Berkeley, rather than following the path taken by his father and grandfather, who studied at Oxford University in England.
While studying in the United States, Haakon asked Norwegian media outlets to respect his privacy.
He graduated with a degree in political science in 1999 and later recalled how much he valued the freedom he experienced while away from the intense attention that came with being a member of the royal family.
In his book, he said he wanted to be “as far away as possible” and remembered, “I could be myself” while surfing.
Haakon met Mette-Marit at a music festival before they eventually married.
In his book, the new king also spoke warmly about the role she played in his life, crediting her with helping him become more comfortable and open with others.
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I Am Not Closing the Door on South Africa, I Am Closing the Door on Violence – Mali Singer, Salif Keita Cancels Show due to Xenophobic Attack
Popular Malian singer, Salif Keita has cancelled his upcoming commercial performances in South Africa over the current Xenophobic attack happening in the country. Get the latest updates on our WhatsApp channel.
The 77yr old singer made the announcement on his facebook page saying that he cannot ignore the attacks going on between each african countries while describing it as a “Painful” decision.
He wrote: “I cannot ignore the reports of xenophobic violence against our African brothers and sisters.
“To be clear, I am not closing the door on South Africa. I am closing the door on violence.
“When I see migrants being attacked, I don’t see ‘politics’. I see people searching for work, safety, and dignity. That does not match the South Africa I know, the South Africa that stood firm with Mali, and the South Africa that Nelson Mandela built,”
His manager, Carolina Vallejo of One World Records, confirmed the decision to AFP on Wednesday.
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14-Year-Old Georgia Girl Sentenced to Life in Prison After Killing Her Mother Over Failed School Shooting Plan
A 14-year-old Georgia girl, Lilyana Rose Wagner, has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing her mother and revealing that she had previously planned a school shooting.
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Wagner shot her 51-year-old mother, Rachel Wagner, in the back of the head while she was sleeping in November 2024.
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The case came to light after the teenager crashed her mother’s car. Police subsequently went to the family home, where they discovered Rachel’s body in her bed.
According to District Attorney Patrick Warren, Wagner later wrote a handwritten confession detailing what had happened. In the confession, she admitted that she had initially planned to carry out a shooting at her former middle school but later abandoned that plan and decided to kill her mother instead.
Investigators said the planned attack had been “inspired” by six mass shooters, although their identities were not disclosed.
Authorities also discovered that Wagner had built an online presence centered around planning a mass-casualty attack. Investigators said she had communicated with anonymous individuals online who encouraged her to commit murder.
The firearm used to kill her mother had reportedly been purchased from a pawn shop about a month before the shooting.
Wagner pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to life in prison. However, she will become eligible for parole after serving 30 years.
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Dad of Two Dies Just Months Before He Was Set to Get Married
A father of two, Ant “Butch” Butcher, has tragically died after being involved in a workplace collision with a side loader in Dinnington, South Yorkshire.
The incident happened on August 12, 2026, at a premises on Todwick Road, where Ant was working.
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The 30-something-year-old was reportedly looking forward to marrying his partner, Sarah, next year. Sadly, his plans were cut short by the fatal workplace accident, leaving behind his two daughters and loved ones.
According to South Yorkshire Police, officers were called to the premises at around 11am following reports that a man had been injured.
Police later arrested a 46-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and other driving offences. He has since been released on bail while investigations continue.
A police spokesperson said:
“It is reported the man was injured in a collision with a side loader.
“Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the man, who was in his 30s, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
“A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and other driving offences.
“He has since been bailed.
“The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and we are working alongside HSE as our enquiries remain ongoing.”
Ant’s death has left his family and friends devastated, particularly as he had been preparing to marry Sarah next year.
A GoFundMe campaign organised by members of the Royal British Legion Riders Branch has been launched to support Ant’s family. More than £7,600 has reportedly been raised so far.
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Dad Dies After Falling Into Vat of Boiling Sugar at Factory in India
A father has tragically died after falling into a large vat of boiling jaggery at a factory in Maharashtra, India.
The man, identified as Danish, had reportedly been working at a jaggery plant in the state for about four months after travelling from Uttar Pradesh with 15 other men in search of employment.
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The fatal incident happened on August 21 when Danish was standing close to the edge of an open vat containing boiling jaggery.
A video from the factory shows him appearing to become dizzy before suddenly losing his balance and falling into the extremely hot liquid.
According to reports, Danish remained trapped inside the vat for nearly a minute before his colleagues were able to pull him out.
He was reportedly in severe pain and crying out as those around him called for water and tried to assist him.
Danish was then rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment.
He Leaves Behind Wife and Two-Month-Old Son
Danish had reportedly been married for two years and was a father to a two-month-old son.
His death has left behind his wife, young child, parents, elder brother and sister.
He had travelled to Maharashtra with other workers in search of employment and had spent several months working at the jaggery plant before the fatal accident.
Jaggery is a traditional unrefined sugar made by boiling and solidifying juice extracted from sugarcane or palm plants.
See video below……….
Dad Dies After Falling Into Vat of Boiling Sugar at Factory in India pic.twitter.com/dXaXLI8jTA
— Iamelizabeth (@elizabethblogng) August 26, 2026
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Mother and Her 2-Year-Old Daughter Dies After Struck by Thunder
A Florida mother and her 2-year-old daughter have died after they were struck by lightning outside their home in Margate, Florida.
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The tragic incident happened on Sunday, August 23, 2026, as Kenya Glasgow and her daughter, Kennedi, had reportedly just stepped out of their vehicle while a storm was approaching.
According to the Margate Police Department, officers received a call at about 2:30 p.m. after the pair were found on the sidewalk.
Witness Prince Moody told ABC Miami that Kenya and her daughter had just exited their vehicle when lightning struck them, causing both to fall to the ground.
Emergency responders rushed the mother and child to hospital, but both were pronounced dead.
Prince said he immediately tried to help the family and called emergency services.
He said:
“Very traumatic scene.
“I offered aid as much as I could, calmed the family down, and I started praying. I called 911 immediately.
“It was very emotional to see two lifeless bodies on the ground.”
Kenya’s husband, Kameroun Glasgow, said the family had just arrived at the home and were trying to get inside as the weather worsened.
“We saw that the rain was picking up and we just said, ‘Hey, we got to get the girls inside,’” he said.
Kameroun said he felt the impact of the lightning strike himself.
“I got the aftershock from the ground. By the grace of God, I’m still here,” he said.
However, when he turned around, he was faced with the devastating sight of his wife and daughter lying on the ground.
“To turn around and see your wife and your daughter there lifeless is even worse,” Glasgow said.
Kenya and Kennedi are survived by Kameroun and Kennedi’s twin sister, Kensli.
Kameroun said the loss of Kennedi’s twin sister will be particularly difficult for the surviving child, who is still too young to fully understand what has happened.
“For her to lose her twin sister, words can’t describe that feeling because I know she can’t even fathom it right now,” he said through tears.
He remembered Kenya as a loving woman who always put other people before herself.
“My wife — the biggest heart in the world,” he said.
“The biggest heart in the world. Puts everybody before herself.”
Kameroun described Kenya as his high school sweetheart, saying they met during their senior year. He also credited her with helping shape the man he became.
“She helped me make me into the man that I am today,” he said.
He also remembered his young daughter as an energetic child who loved music, especially songs by Benson Boone.
“I’ve never seen a 2-year-old sing Benson Boone on a karaoke with a mic word for word,” he said.
“Two years old and as clear as day. ‘Beautiful Things’, that’s her favorite song.”
Kameroun said the birth of his twin daughters had been a blessing to the family following the death of his father, making Kennedi’s sudden death even harder to accept.
“I thought my biggest blessing was God sending me my two daughters once my dad passed,” he said.
“Just for one of them to be gone now, it’s tough.”
He is now trying to stay strong for Kensli as the family begins to cope with the devastating loss.
“It’s going to be OK because I have to be, because I have another beautiful daughter that’s inside,” he said.
For now, Kameroun said he is relying on his faith as he faces life without his wife and daughter.
“God gives no challenges to people that can’t handle it,” he said.
The family has also created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover expenses following the tragedy.
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Man Arrested After Chaining Ex-Wife to Bed for 5 Days and Raping Her 9 Months After Their Marriage Ended
A 24-year-old nurse who had been missing for several days has been rescued by Military Police after she was found gagged and chained to a bed inside a residence in Brazil.
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The nurse, identified as Emiliane Tamara Nunes Carvalho, was reportedly found on Friday in Águas Lindas de Goiás after police responded to reports of a woman screaming from inside the property.
When officers entered the residence, they reportedly found Emiliane in a distressed condition. She had allegedly been restrained with ropes, handcuffs and chains, while a gas mask was placed over her face.
A video from the rescue shows officers freeing her from the restraints as she appeared frightened and shaken.
According to reports, Emiliane’s disappearance was reported on August 17 after she went to meet her former partner, Ailton Rodrigues de Souza.
She had reportedly agreed to meet him to discuss matters involving their two children. During the meeting, however, Souza allegedly attacked her and took her to another location.
Police said she was subsequently held against her will, where she was sexually assaulted and restrained.
Authorities also reported that drugs were allegedly involved during the incident.
In a statement, the Military Police said:
“Inside one of the rooms, the victim was located gagged and with the lower and upper limbs, in addition to the neck, restricted by ropes, handcuffs and chain. She also presented breathing difficulties and signs of lack of oxygenation,”
Investigators reportedly found food and other items inside the residence which suggested that Souza may have intended to keep Emiliane there for several more days.
Souza was traced by authorities and arrested on Friday.
He has been charged in connection with the case, including kidnapping, rape and false imprisonment.
Emiliane was taken to hospital following her rescue and has since been discharged. She reportedly continues to experience pain and dizziness following the ordeal.
The incident occurred months after Emiliane ended her relationship with Souza in December 2025. The pair had reportedly been together for five years and have two children together.
Speaking about the relationship, Emiliane said she overlooked several warning signs when she was younger and attributed part of the situation to her emotional dependence on her former partner.
She said:
“I don’t know if it was love, if it was addiction … it was emotional dependence, because I married him at the age of 18. Love is blind, we don’t see it,”
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38-Year-Old Woman Jailed for 18 Months After Pretending to Be a 12-Year-Old Girl and Living With Adoptive Family for Over a Year
A 38-year-old Brazilian woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after she reportedly convinced a couple that she was a 12-year-old girl and lived with them for more than a year.
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The woman, identified as Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, reportedly deceived the family by claiming she was a child who needed care and protection.
According to reports, Amanda maintained the false identity for approximately 14 months after being taken in by the couple, who reportedly treated her as their daughter.
Amanda was also said to have pretended to be physically disabled and reportedly drank milk from baby bottles and used dummies and a comfort blanket.
She reportedly told the family that she had autism and other medical conditions, which she used to explain her adult appearance despite claiming to be 12 years old.
Amanda also reportedly claimed that she had been forced to take hormones as a child following abuse, saying this was responsible for her mature physical appearance.
According to reports, Amanda first approached a church in Joinville, Brazil, claiming that she had escaped an abusive situation in the northern state of Pará.
Members of the religious community reportedly offered her financial assistance and helped arrange accommodation before she was eventually taken in by the couple.
Police said Amanda remained with the family for about 14 months while maintaining the false identity.
During that period, she reportedly behaved like a young child, including using baby bottles and dummies. She was also accused of pretending to suffer panic attacks and speaking in a high-pitched voice.
The family reportedly became deeply attached to her and believed that she was a 12-year-old girl who needed their protection.
They reportedly celebrated what they believed was her 12th birthday, paid for medical treatment and even considered formally adopting her.
However, the deception was eventually uncovered, leading to Amanda’s arrest and subsequent prosecution.
She has now been sentenced to one year and six months in prison for fraud
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My daddy is dead, Nobody called me – Nollywood Actor Taiwo Hassan Ogogo Dies After Cancer Battle
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House of Horrors – Couple Charged After 16 Children Found Living in Abusive Conditions
Gary Siders Jr., 37, and his wife, Elizabeth Siders, 33, were previously charged with multiple counts of child endangerment after authorities discovered the children living in disturbing conditions at their home in Hamden, Ohio.
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A Vinton County grand jury returned the new indictments on Friday, about two months after authorities raided the property on June 30.
The investigation that led police to the home reportedly began as a separate child sexual abuse case.
“Law enforcement sought the DNA of Gary Siders Jr. related to the child sex abuse case,” prosecutors told reporters.
“Upon serving search warrants for the child sex abuse case, the existing condition of the 16 children at the Ohmer Street house became known,” prosecutors said, adding that “the child sex abuse cases involve interfamily relations and do not pose a risk to the general public.”
The alleged victim is reportedly a young relative who is not part of the Siders’ immediate family.
According to reports, Gary and Elizabeth are accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor who was more than 10 years younger than them between January and September 2022.
The couple now face two counts of third-degree sexual battery and a third-degree felony count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, in addition to the existing child endangerment allegations.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the latest indictments are part of an investigation that is still underway.
“These indictments are the latest developments in the ongoing investigations, but our work is far from complete,” said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson in a press release.
“BCI is actively investigating these cases alongside the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, and my office will continue to support Prosecuting Attorney William Archer as the legal process continues.”
Following the discovery of the home, Gary Jr. and Elizabeth were each indicted on 19 counts of child endangerment.
The charges include second-degree felony allegations that the children suffered serious physical harm while living in the property.
Gary Jr.’s parents, Christina Siders, 68, and Gary Siders Sr., 73, are also facing charges connected to the conditions inside the home.
Christina faces 19 counts of child endangerment, while Gary Sr. faces 16 counts. Prosecutors have reportedly filed multiple legal theories in relation to the conditions found inside the house.