Christopher Phillips, 60, kept the body of his 89-year-old mother Sylvia Phillips in a freezer at his home and failed to notify the authorities of her death
11:06, 16 Apr 2026Updated 16:13, 16 Apr 2026
Christopher Phillips pictured arriving at Cardiff Crown Court for a previous hearing(Image: Wales News Service)
A son has pleaded guilty to preventing the “lawful and decent” burial of his mother whose body was found in a freezer. After her death, he admitted to withdrawing money from his mother’s account and not notifying the authorities of her death.
Christopher Phillips, 60, was arrested following the discovery of his 89-year-old mother Sylvia Phillips’ body in a freezer in a house in Porthcawl on February 17. Following the discovery, a post-mortem examination was carried out at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff but a provisional cause of death was not been provided due to the need for further investigations.
Appearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, April 16, Phillips, who wore a green jumper and glasses, entered a guilty plea to preventing a lawful and decent burial, between October 2, 2022, and February 17, 2026. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.
The court was told it was believed Mrs Phillips died in 2023.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, after failing to disclose to the Department for Work and Pensions and Bridgend Council that his mother had died.
Mrs Phillips’ body was found at an address in Poplar Crescent after a call was made to police about the welfare of a woman.
Police at the scene in Porthcawl following the discovery(Image: John Myers)
An inquest opening at Pontypridd Coroners’ Court on Wednesday, April 15, heard it was not yet known how Mrs Phillips died, and the hearing was adjourned to a later date to be fixed.
Defence barrister Ruth Smith said her client had entered a basis of plea and asked for sentencing to be adjourned for a psychiatric report to be carried out.
The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke adjourned Phillips’ sentencing until June 2.
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