Man jailed for hiding mother's body in freezer and claiming her pension

A British man has been sentenced to over two years in prison for concealing his mother's body in a freezer for nearly three years while collecting her welfare benefits. Christopher Phillips, 60, pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful and decent burial of his 89-year-old mother, Sylvia Phillips, and to fraud.

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This is an extremely sad case where Phillips concealed his own mother’s death and financially profited for a significant period.

Phillips admitted to receiving approximately £78,000 in benefits and pension payments after his mother's death in March 2023. The discovery was made in February of this year when South Wales Police responded to welfare concerns at the family's home in Porthcawl, Wales. Despite his mother's consistent contact with doctors and rolling prescriptions, she had not been seen by medical professionals since 2022.

When questioned about his mother's whereabouts, Phillips falsely claimed she was visiting family in London. A subsequent search of the house revealed a freezer adorned with flowers and a birthday card. Inside, officers found the body of Sylvia Phillips. During further questioning, Phillips refused to cooperate with authorities.

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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.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Claire Lamerton described the case as "extremely sad," noting that Phillips "concealed his own mother’s death and financially profited for a significant period." She expressed hope that Sylvia's loved ones have found peace after being able to lay her to rest properly. Reuters reported that Phillips told a psychiatrist he "didn’t want to let her go," and his lawyers stated he slept in the same room as the body. He continued to place flowers on the freezer, talk to his mother about television and horse racing, and access her bank accounts, all while deceiving people about her location.

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didn’t want to let her go