Christopher Phillips, 60, has been jailed for two years and four months after keeping his dead mother's body in a freezer for nearly three years while continuing to collect more than £78,000 in her benefits.
Details of the case
Phillips admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of Silvia Phillips, 89, at their home in Porthcawl. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Bridgend County Borough Council that his mother had died.
At Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, sentenced Phillips to two years and four months' imprisonment.
Financial gain
Phillips received a total of £78,190.92 in state pension, pension credit, attendance allowance, winter fuel payments, cost-of-living payments and housing benefit, which would have stopped had Ms Phillips' death been reported.
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 judge added.
Mental health considerations
The judge noted: "The psychiatrist concludes that at the time of the offending you were suffering from a recognised mental disorder, namely prolonged grief disorder."
"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," the judge said.
"He also notes what he describes as a dependent relationship between you and your mother, together with your limited social contacts."
Sequence of events
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 her death, for which the cause remains unknown, he bought a chest freezer and stored her body inside 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 found by police officers in February 2026 after concerns for her welfare were raised by the medical practice she had previously attended. The body was covered with a leopard print throw and found alongside roses and a birthday card reading: "To Mum, from Christopher and Tina", a reference to the family dog.
Defence and prosecution
Ruth Smith, defending, said Phillips had been adopted by Ms Phillips at the age of two and was "exceptionally close" to her. They had lived together for 50 years, and Phillips had been his mother's primary carer 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 programmes, 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," Ms Smith said. Phillips had not spent the money on expensive holidays or designer clothing, but had instead continued living in the property as he had before his mother died.
However, Alex Orndal, prosecuting, said Phillips had made a "deliberate and calculated decision" to continue receiving the benefit payments "without needing to return to work".
Sentence and confiscation
As well as the custodial sentence, of which Phillips must serve 40% before becoming eligible for release on licence, the court heard a timetable had been set out for confiscation proceedings.
Senior investigating officer 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."
