British man jailed for keeping mother's body in freezer to claim benefits
Quick Look
- Christopher Phillips, 60, was jailed in the UK for keeping his 89-year-old mother Sylvia Phillips' body in a freezer for nearly three years to fraudulently claim almost £80,000 in welfare benefits.
- He admitted preventing burial and fraud.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Christopher Phillips kept his mother's body in a freezer for nearly three years after her death in March 2023, while fraudulently claiming her welfare benefits, leading to his arrest and subsequent jailing.
A British man who kept his mother’s body in a freezer for nearly three years while he received almost £80,000 (US$108,000) of her welfare benefits was jailed on Monday.
Christopher Phillips, 60, had admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of his 89-year-old mother Sylvia Phillips after she died in March 2023 until his arrest at their home in Porthcawl, south Wales, in February this year.
Phillips also pleaded guilty to fraud after he received about £78,000 in benefits and pension payments after his mother’s death. Police said the cause of death is not yet known.
Officers attended Phillips’ address in February after concerns were raised about his mother, whom medical professionals had not seen since September 2022.
Phillips told police she was in London with relatives, but a search of the home led to officers discovering a freezer with Sylvia Phillips’ body inside, covered with flowers and next to a birthday card from her son and his dog.
Open Questions
- What was the cause of Sylvia Phillips' death?
