Businessman Christopher Phillips, 60, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, March 20. Photo / Google Maps
A British man is accused of keeping his dead mother in a freezer while continuing to spend money from her bank account.
Business owner Christopher Phillips, 60, appeared in a UK court last week charged with preventing the burial of his mother and fraud by false representation, reported The Daily Mail.
It’s alleged he used her bank accounts while his 89-year-old mother Sylvia was frozen.
In February, police visited an address on Poplar Cres in the seaside town Porthcawl, in South Wales, after a request to conduct a welfare check, according to a spokesperson for South Wales Police, reported The Daily Mail.
“A woman in her 80s from Porthcawl was found dead within the property.
“Investigations into the death are ongoing.”
Phillips appeared in Cardiff Crown Court wearing grey prison tracksuit, showing little emotion on his face. He entered court with one hand cuffed to a security guard.
Judge Vanessa Francis told Phillips more information was needed before the case continued, reported The Daily Mail.
“I’m not asking you to enter pleas today as I think there is more everyone needs to know and understand about this case.”
Judge Francis said his legal team needed to understand “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,” The Daily Mail reported.
Phillips remained in custody until his hearing in April.
Once proceedings finished, Phillips left the courtroom and said “thank you” to the judge.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, preventing lawful burial is a common law offence and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Fraud by false representation has a maximum offence of 10 years in prison.