![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/car-park-dug-up-in-new-search-for-royal-navy-sailor-who-disappeared-36-years-ago/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/0_Simon-Parkes-missing.jpg&description=Royal Navy sailor Simon Parkes, from Bristol, was last seen in December 1986 after going ashore in Gibraltar and as the search for him continues, police dug up a car park A car park has been dug up in Gibraltar as police continue the search for a Royal Navy sailor who disappeared more than 36 years ago. Simon Parkes, from Bristol, was last seen in December 1986 when the ship he was serving on, HMS Illustrious, was docked in the territory. His disappearance has previously been part of investigations by Hampshire police into killer Allan Grimson, a former petty officer, who was jailed for life for the murder of two young men and who was serving on board the aircraft carrier at the same time as the 18-year-old. The searches by officers from Hampshire police at the Town Range car park follow previous visits by detectives including digs at the cemetery in the British Overseas Territory. A forces spokesman said: "Officers investigating the disappearance of a young sailor more than 30 years ago have carried out a small amount of excavation work at Town Range car park in Gibraltar this week as we followed a potential further line of inquiry. "Nine officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, including detectives and specially trained search officers, carried out the work in Gibraltar from Monday August 7 to Thursday August 10 as we continue to investigate what happened to Simon Parkes. This investigation continues to be a collaborative operation between Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and Royal Gibraltar Police with support from the Gibraltar Defence Police and the Royal Navy. "Royal Navy Rating 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 on to 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. Since then, investigations into h){kind=link}
Royal Navy sailor Simon Parkes, from Bristol, was last seen in December 1986 after going ashore in Gibraltar and as the search for him continues, police dug up a car park
A car park has been dug up in Gibraltar as police continue the search for a Royal Navy sailor who disappeared more than 36 years ago.
Simon Parkes, from Bristol, was last seen in December 1986 when the ship he was serving on, HMS Illustrious, was docked in the territory. His disappearance has previously been part of investigations by Hampshire police into killer Allan Grimson, a former petty officer, who was jailed for life for the murder of two young men and who was serving on board the aircraft carrier at the same time as the 18-year-old.
The searches by officers from Hampshire police at the Town Range car park follow previous visits by detectives including digs at the cemetery in the British Overseas Territory. A forces spokesman said: “Officers investigating the disappearance of a young sailor more than 30 years ago have carried out a small amount of excavation work at Town Range car park in Gibraltar this week as we followed a potential further line of inquiry.
“Nine officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, including detectives and specially trained search officers, carried out the work in Gibraltar from Monday August 7 to Thursday August 10 as we continue to investigate what happened to Simon Parkes. This investigation continues to be a collaborative operation between Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and Royal Gibraltar Police with support from the Gibraltar Defence Police and the Royal Navy.