Allan Grimson, a former Royal Navy petty officer branded a 'serial killer in nature if not by number', has been convicted of 13 sex offences against three men and a child between 1994 and 1999. The verdict at Winchester Crown Court has brought a measure of relief to the family of Simon Parkes, a Royal Navy sailor who vanished in Gibraltar in 1986 and whom they believe Grimson murdered.
Conviction and family reaction
Grimson, 66, was found guilty on July 29, 2026, and will be sentenced on November 9. Margaret Parkes, Simon's mother, now 80, said: 'He should stay behind bars which is where he belongs. I think justice has been done after all this time for those victims.' Simon was 18 when he disappeared during the final leg of a worldwide deployment on HMS Illustrious. His body has never been found.
Path to inquest
The conviction opens the way for an inquest into Simon's death, offering the prospect of answers after nearly four decades. Hampshire Police closed their criminal investigation in 2024 after exhaustive searches in Gibraltar. Margaret said: 'We now just want it to be recognised formally that Simon was unlawfully killed.' She disputes the Navy's suggestion that Simon went AWOL, pointing to letters he wrote expressing excitement about his career.
Grimson's criminal history
Grimson was jailed for life in 2001 for murdering Royal Navy rating Nicholas Wright, 18, and barman Sion Jenkins, 20. During police interviews, he described killing as 'better than sex, better than an orgasm'. Judge Peter Cresswell said at the time: 'You are a serial killer in nature if not by number.' Grimson had pleaded guilty to both murders, which occurred between 1997 and 1999.
Details of the murders
Wright's body was found in a field near Cheriton, Hampshire, in December 1999. Grimson told police he 'punched the air with triumph' after bludgeoning Wright with a baseball bat. Jenkins' body was found near West Tisted. Grimson said the second killing was an 'anti-climax' because Jenkins was submissive. He admitted he would likely kill again if released.
Family's long wait
Margaret Parkes said: 'Our life sentence goes on. All I can say is Grimson will be a danger to society if he comes out – a leopard never changes his spots.' She and her husband David are '100 per cent certain' Grimson was involved in Simon's disappearance. They hope the inquest will prompt someone to come forward with information and finally provide a death certificate.
