A SON failed to report the death of his father for five months – and pocketed all his benefit payments.
Christopher Blackburn, of Norman Road in Birkby, kept his father’s body in the living room at his home.
But now he has been told he faces a jail sentence after yesterday pleading guilty to the “appalling” crime.
The 29-year-old has admitted he prevented a lawful and decent burial of a dead body between October 31, 2010 and March 23, last year and stealing £1,308 of his father benefits.
The Crown Prosecution Service say thatBlackburn concealed his father’s death so he could carry on claiming the money coming into his account.
The money he took was his dad’s income support, which would no longer have been paid if the Department for Work and Pensions had made aware that former lorry driver Guy Blackburn had died.
Police found the 54-year-old on a bed in the living room of his home in Penwortham, Lancashire, on March 22 last year after neighbours raised concerns.
A post-mortem examination showed he had died from natural causes – probably several months earlier.
Blackburn had been living at his dad’s house during the whole time he was dead.
Appearing at Preston Crown Court yesterday, he admitted to theft in claiming £1,308 in income support that had been paid into his father’s bank account after his death.
The case has been adjourned to March 12 for pre-sentence reports which will include a psychological assessment.
Judge Anthony Russell QC said all sentencing options remained open but in his view these were “serious offences” and a custodial term was “quite likely”.
Blackburn was granted unconditional bail.
Following the pleas, Lancashire Police spoke of their concerns.
Det Insp Marc Nasser said: “This is an unusual case and it is the first of its type that we have dealt with in Lancashire.
“It was a challenging crime and one that most members of the community will find appalling. I am pleased that Blackburn has pleaded guilty and will now be sentenced for the offences.”
