Christopher Phillips, 60, has been jailed for two years and four months after keeping his dead mother's body in a freezer and continuing to claim her benefits.
Phillips previously admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of Silvia Phillips, 89, at their home in Porthcawl, and two counts of fraud. He was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday.
More than £78,000 in benefits
He failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions and Bridgend County Borough Council that his mother had died. As a result, he received £78,190.92 in state pension, pensions credit, attendance allowance, winter fuel payments, cost-of-living payments and housing benefit payments.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, said Phillips had continued to collect his mother's prescriptions and misled medical professionals. "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," she said.
"Your mother's pension and benefits continued to be paid into her bank accounts which you were able to access."
Body stored in chest freezer
Phillips had left work to become a full-time carer for his mother before she died on March 8, 2023. After her death, the cause of which remains unknown, he bought a chest freezer and kept her body in the living room of the house.
Police officers found the body in February 2026 after concerns were raised by the medical practice Ms Phillips had attended. It was covered with a leopard print throw and found with roses and a birthday card reading "To Mum, from Christopher and Tina", a reference to the family dog.
Judge cites prolonged grief disorder
Judge Lloyd-Clarke said a psychiatrist had concluded Phillips was suffering from prolonged grief disorder at the time of the offending. "He records evidence of persistent longing for your mother, difficulty accepting her death, preoccupation with her, social withdrawal, and an inability to move forward with ordinary life," she said.
"He also notes what he describes as a dependent relationship between you and your mother, together with your limited social contacts."
The judge added: "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."
Defence says Phillips was devoted to his mother
Ruth Smith, defending, said Phillips had been adopted by Ms Phillips at the age of two and they had lived together for 50 years. He had been her primary carer since 2008.
Smith said Phillips 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 programmes, Coronation Street, the horse racing, just as they always did."
She said Phillips had not used the money for expensive holidays or designer clothing but had continued living as before. "Mr Phillips was a vulnerable individual with a vulnerable mental health situation at the time of his mother's death."
Prosecution and sentence
However, Alex Orndal, prosecuting, said Phillips had made a "deliberate and calculated decision" to continue receiving benefit payments "without needing to return to work".
Phillips must serve 40% of his sentence before being eligible for release on licence. A timetable for confiscation proceedings has been set out, the court heard.
Detective Chief Inspector Claire Lamerton, of South Wales Police, said: "This is an extremely sad case where Phillips concealed his own mother's death and financially profited for a significant period. My thoughts are with Sylvia's loved ones during such a difficult time, and I hope they have found some peace having been able to properly lay her to rest."
