Court Jails Man Who Kept Mother's Body in Freezer for Nearly 3Years to Continue Claiming Her Pension

A United Kingdom court has sentenced a 60-year-old man to two years and four months in prison after he kept his mother's body in a chest freezer for nearly three years and continued collecting her pension and other state benefits.

Christopher Phillips concealed the body of his 89-year-old mother, Sylvia Phillips, at their home in Poplar Crescent, Porthcawl, Bridgend County, Wales, after she died on March 8, 2023.

According to evidence presented at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, Phillips never reported his mother's death to authorities. Instead, he bought a chest freezer two days later and hid her body inside, where it remained until police discovered it during a welfare check in February.

The welfare check was requested after Sylvia's GP repeatedly failed to reach her. When officers arrived at the property, Phillips falsely claimed his mother had relocated to London and no longer wished to receive medical treatment.

Police became suspicious after observing his nervous behaviour. During the visit, he was reportedly overheard telling his girlfriend on the phone: "The police are going to arrest me, you've got the will."

Officers later opened the freezer and found Sylvia's body wrapped in a leopard-print silk blanket, surrounded by yellow and pink roses. A birthday card signed, "To Mum, from Christopher and Tina," referring to the family dog, was also found inside.

A post-mortem examination could not determine the exact cause of Sylvia's death because her body had remained frozen for an extended period. However, the court heard there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

Prosecutors told the court that Phillips had been exceptionally close to his mother, who adopted him at the age of two, and had served as her sole carer since 2008. After her death, he admitted he "didn't want to let her go" and "wanted more time" with her.

The court also heard that Phillips moved downstairs to sleep beside the freezer and would sometimes open it to hold his mother's hand. He reportedly continued speaking to her as though she were still alive, discussing television programmes and horse racing.

Investigators revealed that Phillips unlawfully received £78,190.92 in state pension, pension credit, attendance allowance, winter fuel payments, cost-of-living payments and housing benefits after Sylvia's death. The payments would have ceased had her death been officially reported.

Defence counsel Ruth Smith described Phillips as a vulnerable and isolated man who suffered overwhelming grief following his mother's death, arguing that he created a false belief that she was still alive because he could not accept losing her.

Phillips pleaded guilty to failing to lawfully and decently dispose of his mother's body, dishonestly claiming her pension and benefits, and related offences.

While sentencing him, Judge Lloyd-Clarke said Phillips deliberately concealed his mother's death, continued collecting her prescriptions, deceived healthcare professionals and lied to police.

"Rather than notify the authorities and make arrangements for her lawful burial, you purchased a chest freezer and concealed her body within it," the judge said.

Phillips was sentenced to two years and four months in prison. He will serve 40 per cent of the sentence in custody, with the remainder on licence. The court also confirmed that confiscation proceedings will be initiated to recover the fraudulently obtained benefits.