Christopher Phillips pleaded guilty to committing fraud and preventing a lawful burial for his mother on Thursday, April 16
Credit: Wales News Service
NEED TO KNOW
Key Takeaways
- Christopher Phillips admitted to preventing a lawful burial and committing fraud by not reporting his mother’s death
- Authorities discovered Sylvia Phillips’ body after her doctor raised concerns about her welfare
- Christopher’s sentencing was postponed for a psychiatric evaluation requested by his defense attorney
A man in Wales has pleaded guilty to keeping his mother's body in a freezer for three years after her death.
Police officers found the body of 89-year-old Sylvia Phillips at her home in Porthcawl, south Wales on Feb. 17, according to the BBC, ITV and Wales Online.
After the discovery, Sylvia's son Christopher Phillips, 60, was arrested and accused of taking money from her account and not reporting her death to authorities, per Wales Online.
On Thursday, April 16, Christopher admitted to preventing the “lawful and decent” burial of his mother at Cardiff Crown Court, BBC and ITV reported.
He also confessed to withdrawing money from her account after her death, reported ITV.
Credit: Wales News Service
Sylvia is believed to have died in 2023. She was discovered after the police received a concerned call from her primary care physician about her welfare, the BBC reported.
A cause of death has not yet been identified due to further investigation, the outlet added.
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Alongside the other charges, Christopher also pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, after he failed to notify the local and national authorities of his mother's death.
His attorney, Ruth Smith, requested that her client's sentencing be postponed so he could undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
At a previous hearing in March, Judge Vanessa Francis told the defendant, "I'm not asking you to enter pleas today as I think there is more everyone needs to know and understand about this case,” per local outlet South Wales Argus.
Credit: Wales News Service
She added that his legal team needed to know "exactly what you are accused of doing."
"It would not be just for me to insist on pleas being taken today when the way in which the case is being put is so unclear,” Francis said.
On Thursday, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told Christopher that he had committed a number of serious offenses and that his sentencing would take place June 2, per the BBC.
PEOPLE has reached out to the South Wales Police and Cardiff Crown Court for comment.
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