A man has been sentenced to prison for storing his deceased mother’s body in a freezer while fraudulently claiming her benefits. Christopher Phillips, aged 60, admitted to the crime of not burying his mother, Sylvia Phillips, who passed away at the age of 89. He concealed her body in a freezer at his residence in Porthcawl, Wales for close to three years, all the while collecting over £78,000 in benefits meant for her.
Phillips also confessed to committing fraud by withholding information about his mother’s death from the relevant authorities. Following the discovery of Sylvia’s body in the freezer on February 17, Phillips was apprehended. In court, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke sentenced him to two years and four months in prison at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.
The court learned that Phillips had become his mother’s full-time caregiver before her demise in March 2023. After her passing, he purchased a chest freezer and used it to store her body in the living room. The body was found covered with a leopard print throw, accompanied by roses and a birthday card dedicated to “Mum, from Christopher and Tina,” referencing the family dog. Phillips fraudulently obtained a total of £78,190.92 in benefits post his mother’s death.
Police received a welfare concern call regarding Sylvia Phillips, prompting a visit to the residence on Poplar Crescent where the distressing discovery was made. An inquest at Pontypridd Coroners’ Court revealed that the cause of Mrs. Phillips’ death remains unknown, pending further investigations after a post mortem at the University Hospital of Wales.
Detective Chief Inspector Claire Lamerton of South Wales Police expressed sadness over the case, emphasizing the financial exploitation of Sylvia’s death by Phillips. She extended sympathies to Sylvia’s loved ones during this challenging period and hoped they could find solace in giving her a proper farewell.