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Inquest to examine sailor's disappearance in 1986

Family handout Simon Parkes smiles at the camera in a portrait photo. He wears a navy uniform with an HMS Raleigh capFamily handout
Simon Parkes disappeared on a night out in Gibraltar with crewmates

An inquest is to be held into the disappearance and presumed death of a teenage Royal Navy sailor in Gibraltar in 1986.

Simon Parkes, 18, was last seen on 12 December after going ashore from HMS Illustrious and spending an evening in bars with crewmates.

The Gibraltar coroner will hear the case on a date to be fixed after permission was given by the Gibraltar government.

The sailor's mother, Margaret Parkes, 78, from Kingswood, Bristol, said news of the inquest had brought her some closure.

Margaret Parkes, who has short, greying hair, looks at a picture of Simon as a young boy
Margaret Parkes said she still had no death certificate for her son

No trace of Mr Parkes has ever been found, despite a series of searches in Gibraltar by Hampshire police.

Most recently, an underground water tank and cemetery were examined in January.

Detectives have previously investigated the possible involvement of serial killer Allan Grimson, who served on HMS Illustrious at the same time as Mr Parkes.

Grimson was jailed for life in 2001 for the separate murders of two young men, naval rating Nicholas Wright, 18, from Leicestershire, and former Royal Navy sailor Sion Jenkins, 20, from Newbury in Berkshire.

He has always denied being involved in Mr Parkes' disappearance.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary A worker in overalls and a yellow safety helmet stands on a parapet inside an underground tank which is lit by bright lampsHampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
Police searched an underground water tank for traces of Mr Parkes in January

Mrs Parkes said a previous request to hold an inquest in Gibraltar was refused in 2006.

She said: "I think there is some new evidence, but I'm not allowed to talk about it.

"It's been a long time and it's what we always wanted.

"We haven't had a death certificate and this news has brought some closure."

Gibraltar Minister for Justice Nigel Feetham KC said: "I confirm I have given my consent as Minister for Justice for the inquest to be held.

"It is the right decision to finally provide the family with answers, if not closure, after 37 years."

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