Man jailed for keeping dead mother’s body in freezer and pocketing her benefits
Summary
A man in south Wales kept his dead mother’s body in a freezer for nearly three years while collecting her pension and benefits. He was jailed after police discovered the body during a welfare check and found he had taken over £70,000 in payments meant for her.Key Facts
- Christopher Phillips, 60, kept his mother Sylvia Phillips’ body in a freezer at their home for almost three years.
- Sylvia was 89 years old when she died in March 2023.
- Phillips continued to collect her pension, benefits, and savings totaling over £78,000.
- He told police his mother was in London with cousins to avoid suspicion.
- Police found the body after noticing flowers on top of the freezer.
- Phillips pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful burial and fraud.
- He was sentenced to two years and four months in jail.
- Phillips had been his mother’s main carer since 2008 and described himself as vulnerable with mental health issues at the time.
- The court heard he talked to her as if she was still alive and placed flowers and cards by the freezer.
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