Porthcawl: A man who stored his deceased mother's body in a chest freezer at their family home for nearly three years has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison. Christopher Phillips, 60, continued to collect his mother's pension and benefits during this period.
According to Ghana Web, Phillips was arrested after the body of his mother, Sylvia Phillips, 89, was discovered by officers in February at their residence in Poplar Crescent, Bridgend County. She had passed away in March 2023. Phillips admitted to several offenses, including failing to lawfully bury his mother and continuing to claim her pension and benefits, which included housing benefits and winter fuel allowances.
The court heard that Christopher Phillips had been adopted by Sylvia at the age of two and was her sole carer. After her death, he reportedly told doctors that he "did not want to let her go" and "wanted more time" with her. Sylvia's body was found wrapped in a leopard print silk blanket, adorned with yellow and pink roses, and accompanied by a birthday card from Phillips and the family dog, Tina.
Phillips purchased a chest freezer from AO.com two days after his mother's death and placed it in their dining room, where she remained until police conducted a welfare check requested by her GP. The local medical practice had repeatedly tried to contact Sylvia, but Phillips denied them access, claiming she had moved to London and did not want medical tests.
When officers arrived at the home, Phillips appeared suspicious, trembling and fidgeting. He later made a phone call to a girlfriend, indicating his imminent arrest. Upon opening the freezer, officers found Sylvia's body completely frozen, delaying a post-mortem examination. Although the cause of death could not be determined, there were no suspicious circumstances.
The court learned that Phillips had moved downstairs to sleep next to his mother's body and would sometimes open the freezer to hold her hand. Sylvia Phillips had numerous appointments with her GP in 2021 and 2022, after which contact ceased, although her son continued to collect her prescriptions.
Phillips received a total of £78,190.92 in various benefits that would have stopped had her death been reported. Ruth Smith, Phillips' defense attorney, described him as a "vulnerable individual" who struggled to accept his mother's death, often speaking to her as if she were still alive.
In sentencing, Judge Lloyd-Clarke criticized Phillips for "deliberately concealing" his mother's death and attempting to maintain the illusion that she was alive. He was told he would serve 40% of his sentence in custody, with the remainder on license. The judge also noted that confiscation proceedings would follow.