Simon Parkes: Case of sailor who went missing in Gibraltar unsolved after 38 years
An inquest is being held into the disappearance and presumed death of Royal Navy sailor Simon Parkes in Gibraltar almost 38 years ago.
The radio operator had been serving on the Portsmouth-based light aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious when he went missing.
On 12 December 1986 his ship docked in Gibraltar, allowing the crew some shore leave.
He had been with his crewmates at The Horseshoe pub on Main Street and told them he was leaving to get some food, but was never seen again.
When Illustrious returned to Portsmouth a few days later, no-one knew what had happened to him, despite a huge manhunt being launched to find him.
Since then investigations into his disappearance have failed to find any answers.
In December 2019, officers from Hampshire Constabulary travelled to Gibraltar to carry out searches in the Trafalgar Cemetery after new information from a former crewmate surfaced.
Trafalgar Cemetery is in the centre of Gibraltar and is just a short walk away from the pub where he was last seen.
However, the week-long search ended with no significant breakthrough being made.
Bone material was recovered but, after a long period of analysis, it was declared not to be human.
In September 2020, it emerged that further searches were to be carried out, but again these ended with no meaningful outcome.
The Town Range car park in Gibraltar was dug up in August 2023, but yet again police uncovered no new evidence.
The sailor's disappearance had previously been part of investigations by Hampshire Police into serial killer and fellow sailor Allan Grimson.
Grimson, a former petty officer, was jailed for life in 2001 for the murder of two young men.
He had been serving on board HMS Illustrious at the same time as Mr Parkes.
He pleaded guilty to the murders of naval rating Nicholas Wright, 18, from Leicestershire, and barman Sion Jenkins from Newbury, Berkshire.
However, Grimson always denied being involved in the disappearance of Mr Parkes.
Nevertheless, both his victims had been in the Royal Navy and been killed on 12 December of each year – 1997 and 1998.
The Portsmouth News pointed out in 2002 how Mr Parkes had disappeared on 12 December 1986, and parallels were drawn between his disappearance and the murders.
Hampshire Constabulary continues to lead the investigation, with assistance from the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Royal Navy.
No date for the start of the inquest in Gibraltar has yet been announced.
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