No one had seen his mother for months - then police looked in his freezer

NewsUK NewsCrimeChristopher Phillips, 60, 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 benefits12:23, 03 Aug 2026Updated 12:31, 03 Aug 2026A son who stored his mum's body in a freezer and kept claiming her benefits has been jailed.‌Christopher Phillips, 60, previously admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of his mother Sylvia Phillips, 89. He kept her body in a freezer at his home in Porthcawl, Wales for nearly three years while receiving more than £78,000 of her benefits.‌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. He was arrested following the discovery of his mother's body in the freezer on February 17.‌At Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, sentenced Phillips to two years and four months’ imprisonment.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 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. Phillips received a total of £78,190.92 in benefits following his mother’s death.‌A call had been made to police about his mother's welfare, leading to officers visiting the house on Poplar Crescent where they made the gruesome discovery.An inquest opening at Pontypridd Coroners' Court on April 15, heard it was not yet known how Mrs Phillips died.Coroner's officer Joanne Webb told the hearing that a post mortem was carried out at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, but a provisional cause of death has not been provided as further investigations were needed.Article continues belowFollowing the sentencing, 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.”Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Court caseCrown courtBreaking NewsCrime