Police have exhausted all current reasonable lines of enquiry into the disappearance of a Royal Navy sailor who went missing almost 40 years ago.
Royal Navy Rating Simon Parkes, from Bristol, was last seen in December 1986 when the ship he was serving on, HMS Illustrious, was docked in Gibraltar.
The 18-year-old radio operator went onto shore but never made it back on-board and when the ship returned to Portsmouth days later, no one knew what had happened to him despite a huge manhunt to find him.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary received new and credible information in 2019 which resulted in specialist teams, such as forensics, being deployed to Gibraltar to conduct enquiries alongside Royal Gibraltar Police.
All reasonable lines of enquiry were thoroughly explored, which included conducting search operations in Gibraltar, before police approached the Crown Prosecution Service for investigative advice.
On the basis of all the evidence gathered by police, and following the advice of CPS, a decision has been made to now file this investigation, pending any further information coming to light.
Officers now continue to support the Coroner with their enquiries.
Detective Superintendent Adam Edwards said: “Officers have worked tirelessly to investigate the disappearance of Simon Parkes, and to find answers for his devastated family.
“New and credible information was received by police in 2019 which led to investigators deploying specialist resources overseas.
“This information has been thoroughly explored and following a complex investigation which has included advice from the CPS, we are now drawing our enquiries to a close. The full circumstances surrounding Simon’s disappearance still remain unknown, however police will continue to support the ongoing Coronial process.
“As with any cold case, no case is ever closed indefinitely – if we get new information that offers new and legitimate investigative opportunities then we will take further action.
“With that in mind, we continue to urge anyone who was on HMS Illustrious who knew or knew of Simon but has not yet spoken to us, or anyone who has remembered something new since talking to us last, to get in touch as any small piece of information could really help our investigation.
“That plea also goes out to anyone who lived in Gibraltar at that time or was on holiday there on December 12, 1986. I know it was a long time ago, but if there is anything you remember being strange or out of place please get in touch.”
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Simon can call us on 101, quoting Operation Thornhill, submit information via our website: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
Calling from abroad? Call +44 1962 841 534
