英国威尔士男子克里斯托弗·菲利普斯因将已故母亲的遗体存放在冰箱中长达近三年，并冒充其身份领取大额福利金而被判监禁。[1]菲利普斯的母亲西尔维亚·菲利普斯于2023年3月去世，其遗体随后被隐瞒。[1]在这期间，菲利普斯共领取了78,190.92英镑的国家养老金、养老金补充、照顾津贴、冬季燃料补助、生活成本补助和住房补助。[1]
2024年2月，警方因医生对未能获得母亲消息感到担忧而进行福利检查，最终在冰箱内发现了遗体。[1]菲利普斯因阻挠合法埋葬罪和两项欺诈罪认罪，法官特蕾西·劳埃德-克拉克判处其两年四个月监禁。[1]
A Welsh man has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison for storing his deceased mother's body in a freezer for nearly three years and fraudulently claiming over £78,000 in state benefits in her name.[1] Christopher Phillips concealed the remains of his mother, Sylvia Phillips, who died in March 2023, until police discovered the body during a welfare check in February 2024.[1]
The investigation began after a doctor raised concerns about the lack of contact with the elderly woman, prompting authorities to conduct a home visit.[1] During this inspection, officers found the body stored in a freezer at Phillips's residence in Porthcawl, Wales.[1] The fraudulent scheme had enabled Phillips to unlawfully receive state pension payments, pension supplement, care allowance, winter fuel assistance, cost-of-living support, and housing benefit totaling £78,190.92.[1]
Phillips pleaded guilty to obstructing a lawful burial and two counts of fraud.[1] Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke imposed the custodial sentence following his conviction.[1]