Double killer’s parole bid delayed

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 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 on Thursday has been adjourned, keeping him behind bars for at least another six months while searches for evidence continue.

His mother 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 taken place recently.

And 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.

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.”