Double murderer Simon Levy accused of stabbing and trying to strangle prison guard

Double murderer Simon Levy has been accused of stabbing a Belmarsh prison officer with a pen before trying to strangle him.

Levy, 41, who is serving a whole life sentence for murdering two women in Tottenham, has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.

The incident took place at maximum security HMP Belmarsh in February.

Levy, who appeared over a videolink at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, denies both charges.

Prosecutor David Burns told the court Levy was finishing a meeting with Belmarsh guard Paul Dunne when it is said he “attacked him with a pen, stabbing him multiple times to the arm and neck”.

It is said Mr Dunne fell to the floor and Levy then “grabbed the officer around the throat” before allegedly tightening his grip.

After the not guilty pleas were entered, Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram sent the case to Inner London Crown Court for trial, with a hearing set for September 14.

Levy’s lawyer, Jason Lartey, told the court he denies assaulting the officer or grabbing him around the throat.

Levy, formerly of Tottenham, north London, was handed a whole life prison term last week for murdering grandmother Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, and mother-of-four Sheryl Wilkins, 39, last year.

The killings happened after he had also carried out a string of sexual assaults on the Tube and raped a woman in a car park.

Levy spoke during Monday’s hearing to confirm his name and date of birth, and then to enter his not guilty pleas.

The alleged attack on the prison guard happened on February 18, when Levy was in custody awaiting trial for double murders, rapes, and multiple sexual assaults.

More to follow...

Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The Independent.