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'
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
In her victim statement this morning, which we reported earlier, Tina Thames said: "I also think about Robert Bush's parents and how they must be feeling. The shame."
As this part of the statement was read out, several people turned to look at Bush to see if he reacted.
He sat in the same position and continued to look ahead of him, but slightly downwards.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
"My beautiful, brave mama deserved the best, and we were assured that she would receive the best," Kerry Webb said in court.
Kerry Webb became emotional as she spoke about her mum and how she loved Coronation Street and hanging out her washing on a summer's day.
As she started to cry, other people in court also became upset.
Kerry used Legacy for her mum, Julie Webb, one of the 35 bodies found by police.
She said she recalled a "pungent smell" the day before her mum's funeral, but it was "quickly forgotten about".
"I know nothing about dead bodies and embalming. Maybe it was normal," she said.
She went on to say that her mother had never been taken to the crematorium, but was "left in his funeral parlour for a week".
"I feel constantly exhausted, like I'm in a fight or flight mode, and I know I won't be able to rest until Robert Bush is punished for his crimes," she adds.
Image source, HandoutJessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Kerry Webb is the first person who reads her statement herself this morning. The others have been read out by lawyers on behalf of the victims.
She takes a deep breath before starting to read her statement but is speaking in a low, clear voice.
As Webb speaks, Bush seems to be looking up at her at times.
He is blinking rapidly again. I saw him doing that yesterday.
Bush appears to be paying attention to what’s being said, but it’s not clear what he’s thinking about as he listens to people talking about the way he treated them and their loved ones.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Tina Thames used Legacy for her father, Herbert James Porter, known by friends as Jim or Jimmy, after he died in January 2024.
The court heard she used Legacy because they were "a local firm and offered a reasonably priced service".
"It seemed a good choice for us. How wrong we were," she said in a victim statement read out on her behalf.
She said she remembered Bush's office being "full of thank you cards", but added "it was all a sham".
She said they had to hold a second funeral for him which felt "surreal".
Image source, Handout
Linsey Smith
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Guilt is a common theme coming through from many of the families in their victim impact statements.
Several have written about their guilt for choosing Bush as their funeral director.
Many also talk about their desire to support a campaign for regulation of the funeral industry, so others do not have to suffer their pain in the future.
Before today's court session, some victims held up posters and banners with a link to their parliamentary petition, calling for the industry to be regulated.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
A victim impact statement has been read out on behalf of Callum Stone, the grandson of Susan Stone, whose body was discovered at Legacy after her cremation.
He says: "My dad, Martin, mentioned at the ceremony that something wasn’t right with the coffin.
"It looked battered and second hand. He couldn’t get over thinking about whether she was actually inside it throughout or not.
"My dad fell into a pit of depression following the news at Legacy and relapsed back into drug use."
Stone says he "needs closure" but does not feel like he can achieve that until the sentencing has concluded.
"I feel nothing but hatred for a man who claimed to treat loved ones with dignity and respect but know that I can’t dwell on that feeling or it will eat me up inside," he says.
Image source, HandoutJessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Lots of the details in the statements we’re hearing in court are similar, but all are so distressing each time you listen to them.
Families chose Legacy because it was local and reasonably priced, although they were still paying out hundreds of pounds.
Many of the victims we're hearing from had never arranged funerals before and didn’t know what to expect.
Some people thought coffins they were shown were too small for their loved ones and that ashes they were given were heavier than they expected.
Lots of the families are also saying they felt taken advantage of at their most vulnerable moments - when they had lost someone they loved deeply and wanted to give them a respectful send off.
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
The families in court have had to sit quietly listening to horrific details and heart-breaking stories for hours on end.
They’re all looking closely at the judge and the lawyers who are speaking.
Everyone is paying really close attention, even though it’s all very hard to hear.
Linsey Smith
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
The first of today's victim impact statements comes from a lawyer representing the family of Terence White.
The court hears how his family had arranged a cremation with Bush.
After holding a wake, the family contacted the crematorium who asked for a certificate of cremation, but later found there was no record of a cremation taking place.
Eventually, the family got a certificate saying White had been cremated in Leeds, but he hadn’t been.
"On Dad's birthday we lit candles around his ashes and celebrated his life. The following day we had a knock from the police to say they thought dad had been found at Legacy," the statement reads.
"Dad was such a lovely man, and Robert Bush treated him like a piece of meat.
"Over the last year or so I have lost weight and my marriage has suffered... I just get no joy from life anymore.
"It's really taken a toll on my life. Robert Bush has caused this huge impact on my life," it continues. "He stripped all dignity from our loved one. And for what? Money? He disgusts me."
Image source, handoutJessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Bush is wearing his dark coloured suit again.
He looks tired. He’s looked down quite a lot since today’s hearing started.
Yesterday, he showed little obvious emotion even as he was accused of ruining people’s lives and destroying the dignity of their loved ones.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
The second day of the sentencing of Robert Bush is now under way.
The prosecution has begun detailing the circumstances of another victim of Robert Bush at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, ahead of more victim statements being read out.
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Everyone is ready inside the courtroom.
The benches are full again with about 30 family members.
They will bring Robert Bush in soon after his first night in prison then the sentencing will continue.
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Courtroom number four is on the first floor at Hull Crown Court.
There is a skylight in the centre of the room.
Yesterday, while we were listening to people reading out the statements about how Bush has made them feel, we would occasionally hear loud seagulls squawking.
It was an odd interruption and made us remember the world outside.
Otherwise, the courtroom is quite dark and doesn’t have windows or natural daylight so it felt odd walking outside into the sunshine yesterday afternoon.
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
We’ve just been allowed into court.
It’s very cool in here and so far it’s just court staff, police and journalists.
Families are starting to come in now and take up the other seats. There are 10 rows and yesterday they were full.
Lots of people have brought others with them to support them.
It’s really hard to stand up in court anyway and when they’re having to talk about such difficult, emotional subjects I can only imagine it’s even harder.
There are boxes of tissues on the sides next to the seats. They’ve been replaced. I can see they’re brand new and unopened.
Linsey Smith
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
There is a much calmer feeling at Hull Crown Court today.
Yesterday, with Robert Bush due to walk in through the front doors, there were at least a dozen officers guarding the area and police vehicles on standby.
But today the 48-year-old will make his entrance via a police van in the court's gated back entrance.
The anger and anticipation in the waiting room is somewhat different as a result.
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
The court building has just opened so we’re starting to queue outside court number four again.
Some family members are here too.
People who are going to be giving their statements are sitting with us outside court.
When we go inside they will be sitting on the rows of benches facing the judge and from there they are called up to stand and speak in front of everyone.
One woman just told us she’s feeling nervous but feels relieved it’s finally her chance to give her statement. It’s been a long wait for families.
This morning Hull Crown Court will hear from more families impacted by the actions of disgraced former funeral director Robert Bush.
Bush, 48, from West Yorkshire has pleaded guilty to 67 offences including preventing the burials of 30 people.
Bush also admitted to giving families the wrong ashes from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull.
On Monday, family members watching proceedings in the courtroom gasped and were in tears as details of the "horror scene" at the parlour were described by prosecutors.
As he arrived for the first morning of his sentencing, Bush said "sorry" to journalists, but families' statements inside court later on made clear the weight of his crimes.
"She protected us our whole lives and I couldn't repay her," said Byron Lill, the son of Muriel Winning, whose body was unknowingly hidden at the funeral parlour.
Hundreds of victim impact statements are expected to be read over the course of the week, and Bush is unlikely to be sentenced for a few days.
As we hear from families for a second day, our reporters inside Hull Crown Court will bring you their victim impact statements - this page will contain details some may find distressing.
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Image source, Nick LewisHull Crown Court has heard from nearly 30 families today.
Each person, each story, each statement has been very difficult to listen to. Some have been read by loved ones who have been in tears and had to pause to get through the words they've planned to say.
Some have been read out by lawyers. But every one has been heartbreaking.
Families have spoken about their guilt for using Legacy. They've spoken about the incredible toll on their mental and physical health since they found out what has happened.
They've spoken about being haunted by memories and being unable to sleep. Robert Bush has sat through the proceedings and has shown little visible emotion throughout.
Tomorrow his sentencing hearing will continue at Hull Crown Court, where we will hear from more people affected by what Bush did.
We're ending our live coverage - read more on this story here.
Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Image source, HandoutGraham Finn
Mollie Finn, granddaughter of Graham Finn tells the court she "despised" Bush and hopes he is "haunted by his crimes for the rest of his life".
"I feel robbed of the chance to say goodbye," she says. “There are no words to fully capture the disgust I feel”.
She says that seeing and hearing news about the case feels like an out of body experience. "It has taken a toll on all of us," she says.
Speaking about the effect it's had on her family, Finn says her family is "“confused, broken and overwhelmed by grief”.
"“It has consumed us and teared us apart," she says.
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
More now from Beverly Jackson, whose partner Peter Moody was one of Bush's victims.
"It feels like his memory had been desecrated," she says.
Speaking in court, Jackson says at the time of using Legacy she felt like the family were "honouring him", but now "live with deep regret for that decision".
She says they had also made a charity donation to the Fishing Heritage Centre on Hessle Road when he died.
“The theft of it feels like a final insult to his memory. It was a cruel and inhumane betrayal of trust," she adds.
Today's hearing has now come to a close - we'll bring you some more from the final victim impact statements shortly.