CONVICTED killer Ian Simms refused to face his victim’s mother Marie McCourt at a parole hearing at Garth Prison, Leyland today.

Simms, who was found guilty of murdering 22-year-old Helen in 1988, opted not to be present at the hearing when Marie delivered a statement in which she detailed her torment over the past 21 years while her daughter’s body has remained undiscovered.

She was also forced to withdraw a section of the victim statement prior to the hearing following opposition from Simms’ legal team.

Marie told the St Helens Star: “Ian Simms has proved he was a coward today by staying out of the hearing. I wanted him to be there to see the pain and devastation he has caused over the past 21 years.

“But he has the final say on whether to be there.

“It was painful and upsetting when I read out my submission but I want to thank the judge for allowing Helen’s voice to be heard. She deserved that right.”

Marie, 65, from Billinge, says she was in the hearing for about 20 minutes, where it was explained to her that Simms had neither applied for release on parole nor to be downgraded from a category B prisoner.

She added: “It begs the question what the hearing was for then and why we have to wait seven days to learn the parole board’s decision.

“It was a very, very stressful day and there has been an awful lot of media interest, although that it is something I am pleased about because it shows the press is still very keen to report on Ian Simms' situation and the fact Helen’s body has never been found.

“If anything comes of this day hopefully Ian Simms may go back to his prison cell and start to think how much longer he is going to be in there and does he have to start admitting his guilt and therefore reveal where Helen’s body is buried.”

Simms, now 54, was found guilty in 1989 of murdering Helen, an attractive insurance clerk from Billinge.

He was one of the first people convicted on DNA evidence without a body having been found.