15 February 2024 , 13:42
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The family of a suspected victim of the 'Frankenstein' killer have been given fresh hope for justice - after his parole hearing was delayed for six months.
Naval rating Simon Parkes was just 18 when he vanished without trace in the final leg of a worldwide deployment on HMS Illustrious in 1986. His family have spent nearly four decades desperate for closure - and are convinced he was another victim of serial killer Allan Grimson, a former petty officer, who was also serving aboard the ship at the time.
Grimson was jailed for 22 years in 2001 then aged 42 for the murder of naval rating Nicholas Wright, 18 from Leicestershire, and barman Sion Jenkins, 20, from Newbury, Berkshire. But his scheduled parole hearing due to take place today (Thursday) has been adjourned - keeping him behind bars for at least another six months while searches for fresh evidence continue.
His mum Margaret Parkes had feared he could be set free and ahead of the hearing had called on the board to give him the same life sentence they had endured. But after being informed of the delay, she said they were very relieved - and hoped the next six months could give them the answers they craved.
A dig earlier this year in Gibraltar failed to turn up any new evidence - but another dig at the Trafalgar Cemetery on the island has also taken place recently. In a further update, Margaret, 78, of Kingswood near Bristol, said the family had also applied for an inquest to be held - after their previous request in 2006 was turned down due to lack of evidence Simon had died.
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Allan Grimson's parole has been delayed for six months (PA Archive/PA Images)She said: "The hearing listed for today has been cancelled for six months. I don't know the reasons why but it's a decision made by Hampshire Police and the parole board. No new date has been listed but we've just been told it's been put back for six months. I am just very pleased he is not going to be released at the moment. I imagine police requested the delay.
"There is new information and the investigation is ongoing. There is still an ongoing search at Trafalgar Cemetery. While the search is ongoing it has been delayed and the parole board have agreed to that. It has give the police more time to find him and gather more evidence.
"The other latest news is we have now applied for an inquest. We first applied in 2006 but it was refused as they said there was no reason to believe he was dead. Any inquest I'm sure will take a long time and it has been given to the coroner in Gibraltar but we are hopeful. It could give us more answers and of course give us a death certificate to help with the closure we need."
Margaret and David Parkes (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)Grimson - dubbed 'Frankenstein' who described killing as "better than sex' has always denied involvement in the disappearance of Mr Parkes - although his family maintain they are "100 per cent certain" he was responsible. Margaret said everything should be done to keep him locked up.
She added: "He is a danger to society. He was a petty officer and someone people looked up to. But he only got 22 years for two horrific murders. His words - they were better than sex - those were his words. It doesn't sit well he could be released. He is a psychopath. Do you ever change? I don't think so. Our life sentence goes on. All I can say is Grimson will be a danger to society if he comes out - a leopard never changes his spots as they say - that is it really.
"I know Allan Grimson is responsible - I have no doubts at all but at the moment it is all circumstantial. We have to prove it. But as years have gone on, more has come forward and there is more evidence and hopefully it becomes more likely we can get the CPS to authorise charges."
Simon Parkes vanished in 1986 and has never been found (PA)
Simon is believed to be a victim of Allan Grimson (Courtesy Parkes Family / SWNS)Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, which is leading the investigation, said officers from the Royal Gibraltar Police have been conducting “a small amount of excavation work” at Trafalgar Cemetery. It comes after excavation work was conducted at Town Range Car Park and at the cemetery last month as officers followed a potential further line of enquiry. No items or materials were located to progress the investigation during those earlier searches.
A police spokesperson said: "This new work being carried out by Royal Gibraltar Police is part of our work to explore all lines of enquiry presented to us. We would like to thank Royal Gibraltar Police for their assistance with this latest operation and the public in Gibraltar for their patience during this activity.
“We have kept Mr and Mrs Parkes informed of our activity and we know this remains a difficult time for them and we hope our ongoing work will one day bring them the answers they so desperately want.” The parole board has been contacted for comment.