UK Court Jails Christopher Phillips for Concealing Mother’s Death and Pension Fraud

A 60-year-old man has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison after keeping his mother’s body hidden in a chest freezer at their family home for almost three years while continuing to receive her pension and other benefits.

Christopher Phillips was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court after pleading guilty to three offences, including failing to lawfully and decently bury his mother and fraudulently continuing to claim payments after her death.

Police discovered the body of Phillips’ 89-year-old mother, Sylvia Phillips, at the family home on Poplar Crescent, Porthcawl, Bridgend county, in February following a welfare check requested by her GP practice.

Sylvia died on March 8, 2023, but her death was never reported to authorities. Two days later, Phillips bought a chest freezer and placed it in the dining room of their semi-detached home, where her body remained until officers discovered it.

The court heard that Phillips had been adopted by Sylvia when he was two years old and had been her sole carer since 2008. He was described as being “exceptionally close” to his mother and struggled to accept her death.

Following her death, Phillips told police he “did not want to let her go” and “wanted more time” with her.

When officers arrived at the property during the welfare check, Phillips claimed his mother had moved to London and did not want medical tests. However, officers became suspicious after noticing he was visibly distressed, trembling and fidgeting.

Phillips later ran upstairs and was overheard telling his girlfriend over the phone: “The police are going to arrest me, you’ve got the will.”

Officers then searched the property and opened the freezer, where they found Sylvia’s body wrapped in a leopard-print silk blanket. Yellow and pink roses had been placed on her, along with a birthday card addressed “To Mum, from Christopher and Tina,” referring to the family dog.

A post-mortem examination was delayed because Sylvia’s body had been frozen for such an extended period. The pathologist was unable to determine her exact cause of death, although the court heard there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding it.

The court was told that Phillips had moved downstairs to sleep near the freezer containing his mother’s body. At times, he would open the freezer and hold her hand.

During the period after Sylvia’s death, Phillips continued collecting her prescriptions and falsely suggested she was still alive. The court heard he received £78,190.92 through her state pension, pension credit, attendance allowance, winter fuel payments, cost-of-living payments and housing benefits.

Those payments would have stopped if Sylvia’s death had been reported.

Before her death, Sylvia had regular contact with medical services, attending her GP practice 26 times in 2021 and six times in 2022. She was last seen at an accident and emergency department on September 24, 2022, followed by a home visit from her GP two days later.

After that, Phillips continued collecting her medication despite her having no further contact with healthcare providers. He also told medical staff she would not attend a scheduled review and did not require blood tests.

Phillips had left his job in late 2022 as his mother’s health declined and was described in court as a vulnerable and isolated individual.

His lawyer, Ruth Smith, said Phillips had developed a “false narrative” that his mother was still alive because he was unable to cope with his grief. She told the court that he continued speaking to Sylvia as if she were alive, discussing television programmes such as Coronation Street and horse racing with her.

Sentencing Phillips, Judge Lloyd-Clarke said he had “deliberately concealed” his mother’s death and taken steps to make it appear that she was still alive.

The judge said Phillips had lied to medical professionals, continued collecting his mother’s prescriptions, deceived authorities and ultimately misled police officers.

“Rather than notify the authorities and make arrangements for her lawful burial, you purchased a chest freezer on March 10th and concealed her body within it,” the judge said.

Phillips will serve 40% of his sentence in custody, with the remainder completed under licence. The court also confirmed that confiscation proceedings will follow.

… UK Court Jails Christopher Phillips for Concealing Mother’s Death and Pension Fraud … Naijaonpoint.