A 60-year-old man from Wales has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison after keeping his deceased mother's body in a chest freezer for almost three years while fraudulently collecting approximately £78,000 in her pension and benefits.
Christopher Phillips admitted to preventing the lawful and decent burial of his 89-year-old mother, Silvia Phillips, and two counts of fraud for failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Bridgend County Borough Council of her death. The case was heard at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.
Discovery of the body
Police discovered Silvia Phillips' remains in February 2026 after conducting a welfare check prompted by concerns raised by her medical practice. The body was found inside a chest freezer in the living room of the family home in Porthcawl, a seaside town in Wales. The body was reportedly covered with a leopard print throw, alongside roses and a birthday card reading: "To Mum, from Christopher and Tina," referring to the family dog.
Mrs Phillips died in 2023, though the exact cause of death remains unclear. An inquest into her death is ongoing, with a provisional cause of death awaiting further investigations.
Continued deception
After his mother's death, Phillips continued to collect her prescriptions and misled medical professionals about her whereabouts. He repeatedly told medical staff that his mother did not wish to attend appointments or undergo tests, according to Judge Lloyd-Clarke.
"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," the judge said. "Your mother's pension and benefits continued to be paid into her bank accounts which you were able to access."
Over the nearly three-year period, Phillips received around £78,000 in benefits and pension payments that should have stopped upon his mother's death.
Background and relationship
Phillips had previously worked as a company director but later became a full-time carer for his mother, with whom he had lived for around 50 years. The court heard that Phillips was "exceptionally close" to his adopted mother and told police: "I basically didn't want to let her go."
His defence lawyer, Ruth Smith, said Phillips continued speaking to his mother as if she were still alive. "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.
Ms Smith added that Phillips was experiencing mental health difficulties at the time of his mother's death and described him as a vulnerable individual.
Sentencing and judge's remarks
Judge Lloyd-Clarke acknowledged the emotional attachment but stressed the seriousness of the offences. "Although your mother suffered the indignity of being stored in a chest freezer for three years, there were no other indignities following her death," he said. "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."
The judge also noted that Phillips had continued to deceive professionals after his mother's death, which compounded the offence. The sentence of two years and four months was handed down at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.
