Prosecution: Man kept mother's body in freezer for three years and collected her pension

A British court sentenced 60-year-old Christopher Phillips to 28 months in prison for keeping his mother's body in a freezer for three years and collecting her pension. The fraud was uncovered by police after doctors raised concerns. The amount of illegal payments totaled £78,000.

A British court sentenced 60-year-old Christopher Phillips from Wales to two years and four months in prison for fraud. He kept the body of his deceased mother, Sylvia, in a freezer in the living room of their home in Port Talbot, South Wales, for nearly three years, and illegally received her pension and social benefits totaling £78,000. The man bought the freezer in March 2023, two days after his mother's death, placed flowers on it, and talked to her, discussing TV shows and horse racing. He also obtained prescription medications by misleading doctors. The fraud was uncovered when doctors, concerned about the patient's absence, contacted the police. During a check, Phillips initially said his mother was in London, but officers noticed flowers on the freezer and his trembling. He tried to flee but was detained. In the freezer, they found the body and a card reading "To Mum from Christopher and Tina." Investigator Claire Lamerton called the case "extremely sad." The defense stated that Phillips was very close to his mother and was in a severe psychological state. He pleaded guilty.