A funeral director who failed to bury people and gave out wrong ashes has breached the trust of bereaved families on an "almost industrial scale," a court has heard. Robert Bush, 48, admitted 67 offenses, including 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial and theft from 12 charities. His sentencing hearing began at Hull Crown Court on Monday, with families in tears as prosecutors described the "horror scene" at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull.
Key Facts:
- 35 bodies and over 100 sets of ashes were found during a police raid in March 2024.
- Bush had been operating for over 15 years, with fraudulent activity dating back to at least 2017.
- Only four of the 35 bodies should have been on the premises; the rest belonged to families who had been told their loved ones were cremated.
- £3 million was paid into Bush’s business and personal accounts, with £900,000 transferred to his wife, while he spent on holidays and personal expenses.
Background and Impact:
The scale of Bush’s offenses was discovered by chance when a casual worker, Patrick Moore, revealed to undertakers from another firm that 29 bodies were at the site, some "there for years." The undertakers alerted police, leading to the raid. Prosecutors described bodies found "on the racks" of a cold storage area, some uncovered and decomposing, including a stillborn baby. Personal effects, such as rings and letters, were strewn across the floor.
Families, including Karen Dry, who entrusted Bush with her parents’ remains, expressed distress and uncertainty. "I will always fear the ashes on my mantelpiece may be somebody else’s mum and dad," Dry said. The court heard that Bush reused coffins, leading to families mourning strangers’ bodies. The sentencing hearing is expected to last five days due to the scale of the crimes.