Tuesday, August 4, 2026 - A 60-year-old man has been jailed after keeping his deceased mother’s body in a freezer for almost three years while continuing to collect thousands of pounds in her benefits.
Christopher Phillips stored his mother Silvia Phillips’ body
inside a chest freezer in the living room of their home in Porthcawl, Wales,
while hiding her death from authorities and medical professionals, a court
heard.
Phillips admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of
his 89-year-old mother, as well as two counts of fraud for failing to notify
the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Bridgend County Borough Council
of her death.
He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. Judge Lloyd-Clarke said Phillips continued to
deceive professionals after his mother’s death and kept accessing her money.
“You continued to collect her prescriptions and misled
medical professionals about her whereabouts, lying when enquiries were made
about your mother, repeatedly telling medical staff that she did not wish to
attend appointments or undergo tests,” the judge said. “Your mother’s pension
and benefits continued to be paid into her bank accounts which you were able to
access.”
The court heard that Phillips continued receiving around
£78,000 in benefits and pension payments while concealing his mother’s death.
Phillips had previously worked as a company director but later became a
full-time carer for his mother, with whom he had lived for around 50 years.
Mrs Phillips died in 2023, although the exact cause of death
remains unclear. After her death, Phillips purchased a chest freezer and placed
her body inside it in the family home. Police discovered her remains in
February 2026 after carrying out a welfare check following concerns raised by
her medical practice.
Her body was reportedly found covered with a leopard print
throw, alongside roses and a birthday card which read: “To Mum, from
Christopher and Tina”, referring to the family dog. The court heard that
Phillips had been “exceptionally close” to his adopted mother and told police:
“I basically didn’t want to let her go.”
His defence lawyer, Ruth Smith, said Phillips continued
speaking to his mother as if she was still alive. “He described talking to her
as if she was still alive… Sitting next to her, talking to her about television
programmes, Coronation Street, the horse racing, just as they always did,” she
said.
Ms Smith added that Phillips was experiencing mental health
difficulties at the time of his mother’s death and described him as a
vulnerable individual. However, Judge Lloyd-Clarke said the offence was
aggravated by the length of time Phillips concealed the death and the financial
benefit he gained
“Although your mother suffered the indignity of being stored
in a chest freezer for three years, there were no other indignities following
her death,” the judge said. “Your offending is aggravated by the length of time
over which you concealed your mother’s death and because you had the financial
advantage of continuing to receive her pension and benefits.”
An inquest into Mrs Phillips’ death remains ongoing, with a
provisional cause of death awaiting further investigations.
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