Son Admits Keeping Mother's Body in Freezer to Steal Pension for Lifestyle
A son has confessed to storing his deceased mother's body in a chest freezer for more than two years so he could illegally claim her pension and benefits to fund his bachelor lifestyle, according to court proceedings. Christopher Phillips, aged 60, admitted to preventing a decent and lawful burial of his elderly mother, Sylvia Phillips, who was in her 80s, and to committing fraud by accessing her financial accounts.
Discovery of Frozen Remains
Sylvia Phillips died at some point in 2023 at their home in the Welsh seaside town of Porthcawl. Instead of reporting her death, Phillips placed her body in a chest freezer and continued to withdraw money from her bank account, including her savings and a monthly benefit of approximately £1,000. The frozen remains were only discovered in February of this year when South Wales Police conducted a welfare check after doctors raised concerns about not hearing from Mrs Phillips. Officers found her body in the freezer, leading to Phillips' arrest.
Court Proceedings and Charges
At Cardiff Crown Court, Phillips pleaded guilty to preventing a decent and lawful burial of his mother and to two counts of fraud for accessing her accounts and pocketing her pension. The fraud charges involved failing to disclose her death to the Department for Work and Pensions and Bridgend Council. Defence lawyer Ruth Smith stated that a basis of plea would specify the death occurred in 2023, and Phillips accepted continuing to withdraw funds from his mother's account to live on. He has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing scheduled for June.
Ongoing Investigations and Inquest
An inquest opening revealed that it remains unclear how Sylvia Phillips died. Coroner's officer Joanne Webb reported that police were called by a GP practice for a welfare check, leading to the discovery of the body in the chest freezer. A post-mortem examination provided a provisional cause of death, but further investigations are pending. Coroner Graeme Hughes adjourned the hearing for a future date. South Wales Police confirmed ongoing investigations into the death, with the force spokesperson noting the woman was found dead at the property on Poplar Crescent, Porthcawl.
Key Details:
- Christopher Phillips stored his mother's body in a freezer for over two years after her death in 2023.
- He fraudulently claimed her pension and benefits, totaling around £1,000 per month, to support his lifestyle.
- The body was discovered in February during a police welfare check in Porthcawl, Wales.
- Phillips pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful burial and two counts of fraud at Cardiff Crown Court.
- An inquest is ongoing to determine the exact cause of Sylvia Phillips' death, with further investigations required.
