The court heard Phillips moved downstairs to sleep next to his mother's body. Sylvia Phillips had 26 appointments with her local GP practice in 2021, and six in 2022, after which there was no further contact. Christopher Phillips received a total of £78,190.92 in state pension, pensions credit, attendance allowance, winter fuel payments, cost-of-living payments and housing benefit payments, which would have ceased had the death been reported. He had been her primary carer since 2008, and the court heard he had resigned from his job in late 2022 when her health declined further. Ruth Smith, defending, said Phillips had told police: "I basically didn't want to let her go."