Police have formally ended their investigation into the disappearance of Royal Navy sailor Simon Parkes, nearly 39 years after he vanished while serving aboard HMS Illustrious. The decision follows guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed.
Mr Parkes, from Bristol, was just 18 years old when he disappeared in December 1986. He was serving as a radio operator on the aircraft carrier, which was docked in Gibraltar at the time.
According to police records, he was last seen after a night out with fellow crewmates and failed to return to the ship before it departed for Portsmouth. HMS Illustrious sailed without him, sparking a mystery that has haunted his family for decades.
Despite extensive inquiries over the years, police say no definitive evidence has emerged to explain what happened to the young sailor. The case was previously linked to an investigation into Allan Grimson, a former Royal Navy petty officer who was later jailed for life for the murders of two sailors.
Grimson had also served aboard HMS Illustrious, prompting renewed scrutiny of Mr Parkes’ disappearance.
In 2019, specialist officers, including forensic experts, travelled to Gibraltar to conduct further searches and enquiries in collaboration with the Royal Gibraltar Police. These efforts were part of a renewed attempt to uncover fresh evidence using modern investigative techniques.
However, authorities say those inquiries did not produce information sufficient to progress the case further.
Detective Superintendent Adam Edwards said officers had worked tirelessly to uncover the truth and provide answers for Mr Parkes’ family. “The full circumstances surrounding Simon’s disappearance still remain unknown,” he said. “However, police will continue to support the ongoing coronial process.”
Mr Edwards emphasised that filing the investigation does not mean the case is permanently closed. “As with any cold case, no case is ever closed indefinitely,” he said. “If we receive new information that offers legitimate investigative opportunities, we will take further action.”
Police are continuing to appeal for anyone who may have information, however small, to come forward. Mr Edwards acknowledged the passage of time but urged witnesses or former service personnel to reflect on anything that may now seem unusual.
“I know it was a long time ago,” he said, “but if there is anything you remember being strange or out of place, please get in touch.”
For Mr Parkes’ family, the conclusion of the investigation brings renewed sadness but also the hope that answers may still one day emerge. Authorities say their commitment remains unchanged: should new evidence surface, the mystery of Simon Parkes’ disappearance will once again be actively pursued.
