A man has been jailed after keeping his dead mother inside a freezer for nearly three years while continuing to receive more than £78,000 of her benefits.
Christopher Phillips, 60, previously admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of Silvia Phillips, 89, at their home in Porthcawl.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, by failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions, as well as Bridgend County Borough Council, that his mother had died.
At Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, sentenced Phillips to two years and four months’ imprisonment.
Phillips received a total of £78,190.92 in state pension, pensions credit, attendance allowance, winter fuel payments, cost-of-living payments and housing benefit payments, which would have ceased had Ms Phillips’ death been reported.
Judge Lloyd-Clarke said: “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.
“Your mother’s pension and benefits continued to be paid into her bank accounts which you were able to access.”
The judge added: “The psychiatrist concludes that at the time of the offending you were suffering from a recognised mental disorder, namely prolonged grief disorder.
“He records evidence of persistent longing for your mother, difficulty accepting her death, preoccupation with her, social withdrawal, and an inability to move forward with ordinary life.
“He also notes what he describes as a dependent relationship between you and your mother, together with your limited social contacts.”
The court heard Phillips had left work to become a full-time carer for his mother in the months leading up to her death on March 8 2023.
Following her death, for which the cause remains unknown, the defendant purchased a chest freezer and used this to store her body inside the living room of the property.
The judge said: “Although your mother suffered the indignity of being stored in a chest freezer for three years, there were no other indignities following her death.
“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 body of Ms Phillips was found by police officers in February 2026 after concerns for her welfare were raised by the medical practice she previously attended.
The court heard the body was covered with a leopard print throw and found alongside roses and a birthday card, reading “To Mum, from Christopher and Tina”, a reference to the family dog.
Ruth Smith, defending, said Phillips had been adopted by Ms Phillips at the age of two and was “exceptionally close” to her.
The court heard they had lived together for 50 years of his life and Phillips had been the primary carer for his mother since 2008.
Ms Smith said the defendant had told police: “I basically didn’t want to let her go.”
She added: “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.
“Mr Phillips was a vulnerable individual with a vulnerable mental health situation at the time of his mother’s death.”
Ms Smith said Phillips had not used the money to pay for expensive holidays or designer clothing, but had instead continued to live in the property as he had before the death of his mother.
However, Alex Orndal, prosecuting, said Phillips had made a “deliberate and calculated decision” to continue receiving the benefit payments “without needing to return to work”.
As well as the custodial sentence, of which Phillips must serve 40% before being eligible for release on licence, the court heard a timetable had been set out for confiscation proceedings.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Claire Lamerton, of South Wales Police, said: “This is an extremely sad case where Phillips concealed his own mother’s death and financially profited for a significant period.
“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.”
