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Son hid mum's body in freezer for three years and covered her with roses

Police found Sylvia Phillips in a large chest freezer. She had been scattered with yellow and pink roses and a birthday card addressed to her which was from her son, Christopher Phillips, and the dog

[Christopher Phillips, 60, kept the body of his mother Sylvia Phillips in a freezer for three years while he continued to claim her benefits.]

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Christopher Phillips, 60, kept the body of his mother Sylvia Phillips in a freezer for three years while he continued to claim her benefits.(Image: South Wales Police)

A son hid the body of his mother in a freezer for more than three years after her death in order to receive her pension and benefits totalling 78,000 while living in her home. He hoodwinked the authorities for years, despite repeated attempts to contact his mother about concerns for her welfare.

Christopher Phillips, 60, kept the frozen body of his mother Sylvia Phillips, 89, in a chest freezer at the home they shared in Porthcawl until she was discovered by police on February 17. She was found wrapped in a leopard print blanket with rose petals scattered over her body and a birthday card signed by her son and her dog.

A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday heard Mrs Phillips had been a patient at Porthcawl Medical Centre and was a frequent visitor at the practice prior to her death, which is believed to have occurred on March 8, 2023. Dont miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.

She was last seen by medical professionals in 2022 after she attended A&E in September 24 and at a house call on September 26.

Prosecutor Alex Orndal said Mrs Phillips' visits to the practice ended but the defendant continued to pick up her prescriptions.

Attempts were made to contact Mrs Phillips in order to review her medication, but Phillips said his mother would not come and did not need a review.

A review in patient records in 2025 led to further attempts to contact Mrs Phillips, but the defendant continued to maintain his mother was not interested in speaking to medical professionals and there was no answer at the home in Porthcawl.

A phone call with Phillips in January this year led to further concerns after he became emotional during the conversation.

A welfare check was conducted by police at Poplar Crescent when two officers attended the address and spoke to the defendant, who claimed his mother had moved to London to live with his cousin.

During the conversation, he was described as "trembling and fidgeting" and when asked how his mother was he said: "She's pretty good actually."

Concerned by what they had been told, the officers determined a search should be undertaken and further officers were summoned.

When told about this, the defendant attempted to run up the stairs but was stopped. He was seen to text someone and told the officers he was messaging his cousin to "say goodbye".

[A white house]

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29 Poplar Crescent, Porthcawl, where the body of Sylvia Phillips was found in a freezer(Image: Richard Swingler)

An officer commenced a search of the property and saw a chest freezer in the dining room. Upon looking inside, the officer saw a large item wrapped in a leopard print blanket which had been scattered with yellow and pink roses and a birthday card addressed to "Mum", signed by Phillips and a dog named "Tina".

The officer believed the item was a human body and called for the Criminal Investigation Department to take over the investigation. The body was later examined and was found to belong to Sylvia Phillips.

Phillips was arrested and was heard speaking to a woman on the phone, saying: "They're going to arrest me, I am saying goodbye. You have got my will."

The defendant was arrested and interviewed on two occasions but answered "no comment" to all questions.

The body of Mrs Phillips was examined but the body had to be thawed due to its frozen state. There were signs of decomposition but no signs of injuries which had contributed to her death. An official cause of death is yet to be determined

A financial investigation was also undertaken in relation to funds received by Mrs Phillips following her death including her pension, attendance allowance, winter fuel payments and cost of living payments from the Department for Work and Pensions, and housing benefit from Bridgend council.

Mr Orndal said the total of these benefits received by Mrs Phillips following her death came to 78,190.

Bank accounts belonging to Mrs Phillips were used to pay rent and bills for her home, and there were ad hoc payments to Phillips' account. There were 223 cash withdrawals from Mrs Phillips' account and a standing order to her son's account was set up in April 2024.

Financial records revealed the defendant purchased the chest freezer two days after his mother's death.

It was stated by the defendant he continued to receive his mother's benefits but had not made a claim for benefits himself, having resigned from his job to become his mother's full time carer. He said he used savings during his employment to pay off debts following Mrs Phillips' death.

[A fading street sign]

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The street was rocked by the scale of the discovery(Image: Richard Swingler)

Phillips later pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful and decent burial and two counts of fraud by false representation. The court heard he has no previous convictions.

Mr Orndal said the offences were a "serious affront to public standards of decency".

In mitigation, Ruth Smith said her client had been suffering with mental health difficulties following his mother's death and had been diagnosed with "extreme grief reaction".

The court heard Phillips had been adopted by his mother at the age of two and he was extremely close to her, having lived 50 years of his life in her home.

He became Mrs Phillips' main carer in 2008 and Ms Smith said the two lived "isolated lives" with Mrs Phillips confined to the living room.

Upon the discovery of his mother's body, Phillips was said to have "not wanted to let go" and wanted more time to sort out the property and possession. He described holding his mother following her death, sitting by her and telling her he would "look after her".

Ms Smith said the defendant spoke to his mother "as if she was still alive" and placed the chest freezer in the living room so he could be near to her. On occasions he would hold her hand and speak to her about what was on television.

Since his remand in custody Phillips was said to be in a "much better state" and acted as a mentor to other prisoners.

Sentencing a visibly emotional Phillips, the Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: "You deliberately concealed your mother's death and gave the impression she was still alive. You continued to pick up her prescriptions and lied to health professionals and the police."

The judge said the defendant's mental health issues do not affect his culpability and referred to his mother having to suffer the "indignity of being stored in a chest freezer".

Phillips was sentenced to two years and four months imprisonment, of which he will serve 40% in custody before he is released to serve the remainder on licence.

The defendant was made subject to Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) proceedings and will appear for a further hearing in respect of these.

Following the hearing senior investigating officer detective chief inspector Claire Lamerton said: This is an extremely sad case where Phillips concealed his own mothers death and financially profited for a significant period.

My thoughts are with Sylvias loved ones during such a difficult time, and I hope they have found some peace having been able to properly lay her to rest.

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