Courts in Wales have dealt with several disturbing cases involving the common law offence of preventing a decent and lawful burial, where bodies are concealed long after death.
Christopher Phillips
Christopher Phillips, 60, kept his mother Sylvia Phillips' body in a freezer for over three years to claim her pension and benefits totalling £78,000. He lived in her home in Porthcawl and deceived authorities despite repeated attempts to contact her.
The body was discovered by police on February 17, wrapped in a leopard print blanket with rose petals and a birthday card signed by her son and dog. Sylvia Phillips, 89, was last seen by medical professionals in 2022, but her son continued to collect her prescriptions.
Concerns arose after a welfare check in January, when Phillips claimed his mother had moved to London. Officers found the body in a chest freezer in the dining room. Phillips was arrested and later pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful and decent burial and two counts of fraud by false representation, receiving a two-year and four-month sentence.
Egle Zilinskaite
Egle Zilinskaite, 31, concealed the bodies of two newborn babies in bin bags in her Bridgend home. Police discovered them during a fraud investigation, after noticing a foul stench. The babies, both male and full term, were found in an attic and airing cupboard.
DNA evidence identified Zilinskaite and her partner Zilvinas Ledovskis as the parents. She pleaded guilty to two counts of preventing lawful and decent burial and two counts of concealing the birth of a child, receiving a two-year suspended sentence.
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell, 48, hid the body of his friend Mathew Scott under a blanket in his flat in Neath, while police and family searched for him. The body was found on June 28, 2022, after a maggot infestation alerted bookmaker staff.
Forensic entomology helped establish that larvae were present in the body as early as June 10. Russell pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful and decent burial and was sentenced to two years in prison. Detective Inspector Carl Price noted the moral obligation to report the death, emphasizing the impact on the family.
