Man kept dead mum in freezer for three years while claiming £78,000 in her benefits

A man who kept his dead mother inside a freeze for nearly three years while he raked in £78,000 of her benefits has been jailed.

Christopher Phillips, 60, kept Silvia Phillips, 89, in a chest freezer in the living room while concealing her death to professionals, the court heard.

He previously admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of his mum at their home in Porthcawl, Wales.

Phillips also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, by failing to inform the Department for Work and Pensions, as well as Bridgend County Borough Council, that his mum had died.

He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court today.

Judge Lloyd-Clarke said: ‘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.

‘Your mother’s pension and benefits continued to be paid into her bank accounts which you were able to access.’

The court heard Phillips had left work to become a full-time carer for his mother in the months leading up to her death on March 8 2023.

After his mum’s death, for which the cause is not known, Phillips bought a chest freezer and storied her body in the living room of the property.

The judge said: ‘Although your mother suffered the indignity of being stored in a chest freezer for three years, there were no other indignities following her death.

‘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.’

Ms Phillips’ body was only found by police after concerns for her welfare were flagged by the medical practice she attended.

Her corpse was found covered in a leopard print throw and found alongside roses and a birthday card, the court heard.

The card read ‘To Mum, from Christopher and Tina’, a reference to the family dog.

Phillips was adopted by his mum and was ‘exceptionally close’ to her, the court was told.

defense lawyer Ruth Smith said the pair had lived together for 50 years of his life and Phillips had been the primary carer for his mother since 2008.

Ms Smith said the defendant had told police: ‘I basically didn’t want to let her go.’

She added: ‘He described talking to her as if she was still alive… Sitting next to her, talking to her about television programs, Coronation Street, the horse racing, just as they always did.

‘Mr Phillips was a vulnerable individual with a vulnerable mental health situation at the time of his mother’s death.’

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