Mother and daughter 'kept body of dead grandmother in their home for months to claim her pension'

An actress left her dead mother’s body in bed for up to seven months while she claimed her state pension. When Olive Maddock, 95, died of natural causes her daughter, Hazel Maddock, 61, and granddaughter, Jasmine Maddock, 35, did not organise her funeral. Although they shared the same house they claim not to have noticed the widow had died, as she was an eccentric who often shut herself in her room and kept herself to herself for weeks at a time.

Hazel Maddock, a singer, model and television actress, continued cashing her state pension, until a suspicious friend called police who discovered the body. Officers were horrified when they visited the filthy, ramshackle semi-detached property in Wallasey, Merseyside, last August and discovered the remains.



It is understood that Mrs Maddock, who had a hatred and fear of doctors, had barricaded herself in her room and police had to break down the door. The pathologist who examined her was unable to ascertain exactly when she died, but estimated it was several months earlier. Jasmine Maddock, a professional artist, told police she had last seen her grandmother two months earlier.

The mother and daughter were arrested and earlier this week they appeared before magistrates in Birkenhead charged with preventing the decent and lawful burial of Mrs Maddock sometime between January 1, 2010, and August 2, 2010. Hazel is also charged with one count of fraud in relation to cashing the dead woman’s state pension. Neither woman entered a plea and both were granted unconditional bail to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on January 20.