A man who hid his deceased mother’s body in a freezer to continue receiving her benefits has been sentenced to jail. Christopher Phillips, aged 60, admitted to unlawfully keeping his mother Sylvia Phillips, 89, in a freezer at his residence in Porthcawl, Wales, for nearly three years while collecting over £78,000 in benefits.
Phillips also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud for not informing the authorities about his mother’s passing. He was apprehended after his mother’s body was found in the freezer on February 17. In a court hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke sentenced Phillips to two years and four months in prison.
Reports revealed that Phillips had left his job to care for his mother full-time before her demise in March 2023. After her death, he bought a chest freezer to store her body in the living room. The body was covered with a leopard print throw and surrounded by roses and a birthday card addressed to “Mum, from Christopher and Tina,” mentioning the family dog.
Authorities were alerted to the situation after concerns were raised about the mother’s well-being, leading to the discovery of her body at the residence. An inquest held at Pontypridd Coroners’ Court mentioned that the cause of Mrs. Phillips’ death is unknown, pending further investigations following a post-mortem examination.
Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Claire Lamerton of South Wales Police expressed sadness over the case, emphasizing the financial exploitation and concealment of the deceased. Lamerton extended sympathies to Sylvia’s family, hoping they could find solace in giving her a proper farewell.