Police are continuing their search for Simon Corner, a notorious drug smuggler and the prime suspect in the baffling disappearance of Scotland-born Lisa Brown. Dubbed a professional fugitive due to his criminal connections and sailing expertise, Corner, who also goes by the name Dean Woods, has managed to evade capture despite previous arrests and imprisonment.
Lisa Brown vanished without a trace on November 4, 2015, from her residence in Guadiaro, San Roque, Spain, where she lived with her young son. Spanish authorities were alerted four days later when Lisa failed to pick up her son from school. Evidence discovered at her apartment suggested a violent incident had occurred before her disappearance.
Simon Corner, Lisa’s former boyfriend and a luxury yacht dealer, was interviewed regarding her vanishing. Following questioning, Corner fled the country. However, he was apprehended in Denmark in April 2016 and extradited back to Spain. Despite initial imprisonment, he was eventually released.
In a surprising turn of events, the case against Corner was archived by a judge in Spain shortly after his arrest at Heathrow Airport in 2017. The judge cited insufficient evidence and no charges were filed for his six months on the run. Lisa’s family had hoped for Corner’s extradition to Spain to face trial for her disappearance.
However, their hopes were further shattered when lawyers in Spain informed them that Corner would not face prosecution for Lisa’s disappearance. Instead, he was imprisoned for his involvement in a €10 million drug ring, receiving a 12-year sentence.
Last year Corner failed to return from a period of day release at an open prison on November 19, where he is serving his drug-related sentence. This has reignited concerns about his whereabouts and the risk he poses. Described as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a medium build, short brown hair, brown eyes, and a Liverpool accent, Corner’s disappearance has raised serious questions about the justice system.
The Daily Record earlier this year spoke to underworld sources who expressed concerns that Corner’s trail may have gone cold, making it difficult to locate him. These sources cited his criminal connections, multiple identities, and sailing expertise as factors that could enable him to live a life of anonymity at sea.
Police are deeply concerned about Corner’s escape and potential evasion, and admit he had a significant head start due to his day release status. They had hoped to locate and re-incarcerate him within hours of his escape.
Derbyshire police are urging anyone who has seen Corner or has information about his whereabouts to contact them immediately, referencing reference number 884-191122. Additionally, anyone with information about Lisa Brown’s disappearance is urged to reach out to LBT Global at 0800 098 8485 or via email at [email protected].
As the search intensifies, Lisa’s mother, Helen, maintains unwavering hope that one day the truth about her daughter’s disappearance will come to light.
