Helen McCourt murderer Ian Simms set to be released

Helen McCourt was murdered by Ian Simms in Billinge, Merseyside, in 1988

A man jailed over the 1988 murder of Helen McCourt is to be released after an appeal to keep him behind bars was rejected.

Ian Simms, 63, was convicted of killing the 22-year-old, who disappeared in Merseyside, but has never revealed where he hid her remains.

Her mother, who appealed against the Parole Board's recommendation for his release, said she was "disappointed".

But the Ministry of Justice has now been ordered to free Simms.

The Parole Board said it was "satisfied that imprisonment is no longer necessary for the protection of the public".

Simms, who never admitted his guilt, killed Ms McCourt as she walked home from work in Liverpool.

Her mother Marie said in a statement: "I am very disappointed with the Parole Board's announcement and do not accept what they are saying - that Simms is safe to be released.

"I am consulting my legal team to discuss my next steps."

She has previously said she was left shaking with anger after receiving a call from her victim liaison officer at the Parole Board confirming Simms' likely release.

Ian Simms, pictured here in 1988, was jailed for murder

Mrs McCourt has urged the government to introduce Helen's Law, legislation that would deny parole to killers who do not disclose their victims' remains.

The bill recently ran out of time, when the general election was called.

Simms was denied release at a hearing in 2016, but was later transferred to an open prison "due to progress made", where he had "followed the rules" when granted temporary release.

Mrs McCourt has described not knowing the whereabouts of her daughter's body as "torture".

A Parole Board spokesman said: "The Parole Board has decided that the original decision to release Ian Simms should stand, after considering a reconsideration application from the Secretary of State.

"Whilst the Parole Board has every sympathy with Helen McCourt's family, if the board is satisfied that imprisonment is no longer necessary for the protection of the public, they are legally obliged to direct release."

Mrs McCourt's fight for justice

• February 1988: Helen McCourt, 22, disappeared near her home in Billinge

• 1989: Ian Simms was found guilty of her murder after blood and an earring - identical to one belonging to her - were found in his car boot

• February 1989: He was jailed for life and was told he would have to serve at least 16 years before being considered for parole

• February 2004: Simms became eligible to be considered for release from prison

• December 2015: Marie McCourt launched a petition calling for a change in the law to ensure killers are not released unless they reveal the location of their victims' bodies

• February 2016: Simms was deemed unsuitable for release but it was recommended that he be moved to an open prison. Marie McCourt also visited Downing Street to hand over her petition

• October 2016: MPs voted in favour of Helen's Law to deny killers parole if they would not reveal the location of their victims' remains

• July 2019: Justice secretary David Gauke confirmed the law would be adopted in England and Wales

• October 2019: The bill to enact Helen's Law was presented to the House of Commons after being included in Monday's Queen's Speech. It was expected to become law in spring 2020 but this was prior to the general election

• November 2019: Simms was considered for parole for the seventh time and officials said he had "met the test for release"