Warning: this page contains distressing details
Ex-funeral director Robert Bush has been sentenced to 20 years in prison over his failure to bury and cremate dozens of people
During the sentencing at Hull Crown Court, Judge Mr Justice Hilliard says Bush's actions caused "anguish and pain on a scale beyond comprehension"
Victims attempted to hold back tears as the judge went over some of the harrowing details of Bush's offending, our reporter at court writes
The former funeral director had admitted 67 offences, including denying 30 people a decent and proper burial, and fraud charges relating to presenting families with the ashes of strangers
The sentencing follows a week of hearings in which victims described Bush, 48, as a "con man" - on Wednesday, Bush's barrister said "greed and incompetence" likely played a role in his crimes
Speaking outside court, an affected family member says a 'public inquiry should now be established'
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
The court is now discussing the case of Sunny Beverley-Conlin, a stillborn baby who was discovered at the Hull premises almost two years after his funeral.
Jasmine Beverley, Sunny's mother, is shortly going to give a statement.
Alan Brigham's statement was read out for him before the lunch break.
In it he said as soon as the press released information about the discovery of uncared for human remains at Legacy, the mental and physical pain began in relation to the ashes of his mother, Clara Brigham.
"Although I was initially concerned, based on the information provided by the press, I understood that the police had already communicated with those involved and they had not contacted either my siblings or me.
"I felt safe, but still very worried about not acting on the red flags I had felt over the ashes of our mother."
"Was there something in the statements Robert Bush made about the delay in returning the ashes? Was there anything suspicious about the strange colouration and consistency of her ashes?
"Why had I not spoken to the Cemeteries office about these concerns?," he said.
"I would at least have discovered that they had not cremated her body at Northern Crematorium, as stated by Robert Bush.
"Was it my fault that all those victims had been made to suffer when, had I raised a simple query, I might have been able to prevent the mistreatment of their loved ones?
"While I am not in any way responsible for Robert Bush's unendurable behaviours, I could have stopped him sooner," he added.
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
We are heading back into court now for the afternoon.
Most people are sitting down and the public benches are busy but not totally full as they have been at times.
The judge will come in shortly and then things will get started.
Curtis Neylon spoke to the court this morning and described how his mental health had suffered after being given the wrong ashes for his father, Anthony Neylon, who died unexpectedly.
"I’ve been very annoyed with regards to what has happened and have gone through a period where I have suffered with my mental health, initially through the unexpected death of my dad, and then in relation to what has happened with his ashes.
"I feel a lot better now that I have finally received my dads’ ashes once and for all."
Image source, HandoutRobert Bush is back in Hull Crown Court today for the second day of his sentencing.
The former funeral director has pleaded guilty to 67 offences, including preventing the burials of 30 people and admitting to giving families the wrong ashes.
With the court now on a break for lunch, here's a reminder of some of the victim impact statements we've heard in the court so far today.
We will continue to bring you more victim statements throughout the afternoon.
A victim impact statement from relatives of Doreen Stockdale, delivered before the court broke for lunch, spoke about the upset Bush had caused.
Mandy Bailey, who referred to Doreen as Auntie Babs, said: "We wanted to give Auntie Babs a nice ending, [and] we went to the ends of the earth to find her mum and dad's grave.
She said they found the plot in the Northern Cemetery and took the ashes to the plot.
"We bought a new pot for the flowers, put some of her ashes in there and scattered the rest. We thought placing her ashes with her family members was the last good thing we could do for her," she added.
But after news of the police investigation broke, Bailey says: "I felt sickened.
"We found out that the police had found some cremation paperwork that Babs had been cremated in October and so the ashes given to us in the August could not have been those of Auntie Babs.
"Police did find a bag with a plaque in it with Babs' details on it, but there were no ashes."
She continued: "He [Bush] has caused so much upset. I just can't imagine the mentality of someone who has done this."
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
In a family statement delivered before the break Brooke Atkinson said Legacy provided cremation services for her father, Shane Atkinson, and says Bush had made "some strange comments".
Some of these comments, according to a statement read out on Atkinson's behalf, included "it’s been a pleasure working with your dad this week. I’ve had a lot of fatties in this week, it’s been hard work and your dad is little”.
Atkinson recalls what happened when she went to try and collect her father's ashes, after hearing "a lot of banging".
"He [Bush] then brought a bag out that was a white bag with a serial number with dad’s name on it. When he handed them he laughed and said, “Thought I’d lost him”.
"As soon as I took hold of the bag, my hand just dropped as it was so heavy. I thought that dad was heavier when he was dead then when he was alive."
Image source, HandoutAtkinson says they had chosen Legacy as "they were more affordable" with the service recommended to them by a friend.
"He knew how to manipulate the system. He has no empathy for anyone," the statement reads.
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
It has been another really difficult morning in court. Every person has their terribly sad story to tell.
Many who’ve spoken in court have had to do so through tears and with other people in court crying alongside them.
The boxes of tissues, which were new this morning, are all open now and have been moved to the seats where families are waiting to stand up and speak.
Court has broken now for lunch but should be back at 2pm.
The court has now broken for lunch.
We'll continue bringing you victim impact statements when they resume this afternoon.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
"He acted so kind, telling us he moisturised my mam with Dove every day to keep her skin soft," recalls Kelly Robinson, in her statement read out by the court.
They had used Legacy for her mother Sylvia Osler after she died in 2023.
"Bush was never in the building when we first went to view my mam. We had to wait outside because he wasn't there for our appointment," the statement reads.
At the second appointment, Kelly says Bush "rushed us out, saying he had another family coming soon, even though there were several rooms available".
She began to question things when she was able to view her mother, the court hears.
"She had a bruise on her head that she did not have when she passed. When I asked Bush, he said it would be from transportation.
"I had never seen a dead body before, so my dad took me.
"I noticed the smell immediately and kept asking my dad why it smelled like that," the statement adds.
Image source, HandoutKelly says she "no longer believes" her mother was in the coffin at her funeral.
The statement concludes: "No prison sentence can ever truly deliver justice for what Bush has done. His actions didn't just break rules - they broke families. They broke trust.
"They broke something inside each of us that cannot be repaired."
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Valerie Coates tells the court it was a "cruel realisation" to find out that her husband Ronaldo's urn, that she "talked to every day", did not contain his ashes.
"We had made a pact, Ron and I, a promise to each other, that our ashes would eventually be together.
"Robert Bush has made that impossible and I shall never know what actually happened to Ron’s ashes," she tells the court.
Valerie says the family had a "special family day" on the same day they were told Ronaldo had been cremated, and a celebration of his life a few weeks later, which was attended by more than 100 people.
"All that has been reduced to a sick joke, a horror story.
"I believe that Mr Bush took advantage of me and my family when we were grieving and very vulnerable.
"He took our money but did not care for Ron as promised and callously gave us some other poor soul's ashes, knowing that I believed them to be Ron's and intended to keep them with me."
"I feel every day as though I am silently screaming," she adds.
Image source, HandoutEleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
"I thought he was being genuine and kind. I trusted him," Lynn Farmery tells the court.
Her husband Ian died at the age of 57.
She explains to the court that Bush told her she could have Ian's ashes in a scatter tube, but they "weren't there".
"Bush appeared to be very kind and empathetic. My head wasn’t in the right place," she explains.
Lynn says she "never questioned anything he said, even when he came up with excuses as to why his chip/pin machine was not working".
Bush made "a horrendous situation so much worse for me", she adds.
"He promised me he would take care of Ian and of his remains. He lied. He let us both down. This feels like a living nightmare," she says.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
"It better not be my dad in there", Kadie Laws remembers shouting when she first found out about the bodies that were being found by police at Legacy.
Kadie, who says she has PTSD, depression and anxiety after losing her father, Darren Laws, gives her victim impact statement to the court through sobs.
She says she "became concerned" that the family did not have her father's ashes as time progressed and then she "started getting flashbacks".
"I suddenly went into my own world and saw myself looking down from above watching Robert Bush and my dad pointing and arguing with one another. I couldn't hear what they were saying.
"This incident frightened me and there has definitely been a decline in my mental health since the death of my dad."
"The other victims are also going through hell," Kadie says.
She covered her face as she left the dock, saying: "I can't look at him", while Bush sat looking down.
Image source, HandoutJessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Family member Kadie Laws delivers her statement in person. She's speaking about the treatment of her dad Darren by disgraced funeral director Robert Bush.
Kadie sobbed as she walked up to give her statement.
She was told by the lawyer to take her time as she was so upset.
Her voice is shaking as she’s talking and several other people in court are wiping their eyes as she speaks.
As proceedings continue, several people in court have stood up to leave and many are holding tissues.
Linsey Smith
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
This has been a really emotional few hours in court, with some victims finding it incredibly difficult to read out their statements as they hold back tears.
Family members are talking about the impact on their lives, their mental health, their ability to work and even be alone in their own homes.
Others are talking about suicidal thoughts and the fact they have had to be medicated.
Several people have had to leave the courtroom and others are standing up to comfort each other.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Tracey Hudson gives a moving statement to court, speaking through tears.
"I feel like my mum was eliminated by Bush," she says, in relation to Annie Kendall.
Hudson says "I had to buy a new urn and have my ring done again", after she found out she had not been given her mother's ashes from Legacy.
She says the impact of Bush's actions has made her depressed, angry, and "more frustrated than I have ever been in my whole life".
“I am completely brain dead and not able to work at the moment. This makes me feel useless. I am not able to give 100% in my job role," she speaks of the impact it has had on her mental health, as well as financially.
After taking a pause, Hudson says "a big cloud hangs over me and my family members".
She also tells the court it feels as if she is on a roundabout, "going round and round in circles", that she is unable to get off.
Image source, HandoutJessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Tracey Hudson, the daughter of Annie Kendall, stands in court to speak about how she's been affected. It's clear that she is upset, as she speaks through tears.
"I hate Bush for what he has done to me and my family," she tells the court.
Listening to Tracey’s emotions is affecting other people in court. We can hear people starting to cry and get upset themselves as they listen.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Michelle Drewry says Robert Bush's actions have "prolonged" her family's "pain and suffering" after losing her mother, Margaret Ounsworth.
"To say the actions of Robert Bush has had a negative impact on my family and myself would be a huge understatement," she tells the court.
She says they had put trust in Bush to take care of her mother after she died, but he had "took advantage" of this, as well as their vulnerability during grief.
"This is something that we can never get back, something that will never be made better and something we have to carry for the rest of our lives," she says.
Image source, HandoutJessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
We’ve moved onto a different set of offences now.
These are the 57 counts of fraud by false representation. Lots of people are here in court and standing up to give their statements.
One, Claire Edwards, is speaking clearly to the court about her mum Carol Edwards. Behind us in the public gallery, someone is crying and being quietly comforted by their friend.
She describes feeling helpless in not being able to find her mum's ashes as people cry in the gallery around her.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Maxine Penrose said she feels like she has been "left in limbo" after using Legacy for her brother, Paul Hemingway, who was 58 when he died.
"I feel lost. I am a different person than I used to be," a victim statement read out on her behalf said.
She said Paul was left at Legacy for 73 days after his funeral and her children had made a ring for her with Paul's ashes, which turned out to not be his.
"I don't know how Robert Bush could present the way he did to people knowing what he was doing.
"He came across as a really nice person but, in reality, he was pure evil," she added.
Image source, Handout