Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

We’re inside the waiting room at Hull Crown Court, outside of courtroom four, where this hearing has been held all week.

Seats are filling in the lobby, either with families and victims or members of the press.

Families congregate and sit together, offering quiet words of comfort to one another.

One woman is clasping a picture frame, presumably holding the picture of a loved one.

We have about 45 minutes to wait before Mr Justice Hilliard passes sentence on Robert Bush at midday.

Image source, Humberside Police

Welcome to the fifth day of our live coverage of the sentencing of former funeral director Robert Bush from Hull Crown Court.

Bush has pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial after police discovered 35 bodies and more than 100 sets of ashes at the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, in Hull, in March 2024.

He has also admitted 35 counts of fraud relating to the return of ashes and one count of fraudulently running a business in relation to the selling of funeral plans.

He also pleaded guilty one count of theft from 12 charities, including the Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The hearing, which started on Monday, is expected to conclude today with Judge Mr Justice Hilliard passing sentence.

A warning that the content coming from the courtroom contains details that you may find distressing.

Jack Grey
Live reporter

We're pausing our live coverage for now.

Court is set to resume at midday on Friday, where Robert Bush will be sentenced for 67 offences, including preventing the burials of 30 people.

Until then, you can read more in our full online article.

Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Robert Bush was back in Hull Crown Court today for the fourth day of his sentencing hearing.

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.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of fraudulently running a business. This related to the sale of funeral plans with 172 victims relating to this count alone.

With the court now adjourned until midday tomorrow, here's a reminder of some of the detail we've heard today.

• The court heard from a charity worker who thanked people for their donations which were stolen by Bush
• Several statements were read out of those who were defrauded after taking funeral plans out with Legacy
• "Shame on him," "sleepless nights", "preyed on innocent people" - victim statements from people who took out funeral plans with Legacy
• Some of those people have still not had any money back, including Barrie Marshall, who lost more than £5,000
• We hear the impact that the Legacy investigation had on police officers, who "did their best to restore dignity" to the remains they found at Legacy
• One officer says the discovery of a baby's remains "knocked the wind out of my sails"
• Judge Mr Justice Hilliard explains some of tomorrow's sentencing to the courtroom before adjourning the hearing

Jack Grey
Live reporter

Bush is due to be sentenced on Friday for 67 offences, including denying 30 people a decent and proper burial - of which the maximum sentence for each offence is life in prison.

Other offences include fraud charges relating to presenting families with the ashes of strangers.

Earlier in the hearing, the prosecution laid out what they believe are aggravating factors, which include abuse of power, sophisticated planning, fraudulent activity over a sustained period of time and the large number of victims.

When deciding on a sentence, a judge will consider both aggravating and mitigating factors that may increase or reduce the sentence handed out.

Judge Mr Justice Hilliard will also consider other factors, such as Bush's guilty pleas, his age and criminal record.

Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The court has now risen for the day.

Judge Mr Justice Hilliard says the sentencing hearing will resume at midday tomorrow.

Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

There is a gasp, from journalists especially, as the judge tells court we will resume at midday tomorrow.

That is when Bush will learn the sentence he will receive for his crimes.

Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Mr Justice Hilliard explains to the court that he will decide on Bush's sentence, but parliament decides how much of that sentence he will serve.

He says: "I think all I can say is the current position is half. There was a proposal for it be changed but that’s been paused.

"I can't tell the defendant more than that because I don’t know."

He also says the Proceeds of Crime Act will be discussed as part of the case, which he explains involves the amount of financial loss Bush's offences have caused.

"Then the defendant has to pay that if he's got the available amount. That’s the process that happens," Hilliard says.

Further statements will be laid out in the hearing as part of this, the judge tells the court.

Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

Judge Mr Justice Hilliard addresses the public gallery, reiterating his role in this case.

Bush is looking up from the dock, staring at the judge - he hasn’t lifted his gaze often in the last three days.

Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

Bush is now back in the dock.

Over the past four days we’ve heard from both prosecution and defence.

It has all been heard by the judge and it has all been relived by the victims and families connected to these crimes.

Now, it’s time for the judge to decide a timeline, when sentencing will happen. When Bush will know his fate.

Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, has now returned to his seat and the hearing continues.

Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Warning: this case involves distressing details

James Milligan is the Humberside Police force lead for chemical, radiation and hazardous material and his statement was read to court before the break.

He was deployed to Legacy in March 2024 with a team of five officers.

In his statement he recalls his team's reaction when they discovered the remains of Jasmine Beverley's baby in a bag.

"I remember one of the team saying ‘is this what I think it is?’

"We were all looking at each other in all I can describe as disbelief."

He says the situation "knocked the wind out of my sails" for one of the first times in his life.

“The mood within the team became quite dark, even angry," he adds.

Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The court has now risen for 15 minutes.

Judge Mr Justice Hilliard has left the room.

Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

There is weeping in the public gallery in this moment.

The graphic description of how bodies and human remains were found at Legacy is difficult to listen to.

Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Warning: this case involves distressing details

We are now hearing statements from the police officers who investigated the Hessle Road premises.

They are read out in court on their behalf.

Prosecutor Steven Ball says it had a "profound impact on the police investigators who were specially trained to undertake this work".

One officer recalls a bag being opened where they were "shocked to find what was clearly a small human fetus” which read 'baby of Jasmine Beverley'".

The officer's statement reads: "This was by far the most upsetting part of the whole investigation and it still upsets me now."

Another officer described it as "the worst experience of my career".

They say: "Finding the fetus will never leave my thoughts.

“I was disgusted and deeply saddened."

Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

The prosecution points out these are specially trained officers, but the court hears they were "shocked" at what they found.

“It’s clear just how bad conditions were," reads a statement from officers involved.

“We have done our best to restore dignity and decency to those deprived of it," it continues.

Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

The prosecution is now talking about the effect this investigation has had on police.

We hear more about the discovery of Jasmine Beverley’s baby at Legacy which has been described as the most upsetting part of the investigation.

Beverley is in court today - and is crying at the mention of her son.

Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The court now hears a statement read on behalf of Valerie Newton.

She says she is "financially out of pocket by £5,198" after taking out funeral plans with Legacy.

The statement reads: "We are now delaying any new thoughts of making funeral plans because this man has placed serious doubts in our minds over the honesty and integrity of funeral companies.

"We are retired and the loss of the money to Robert Bush does have a financial effect on the way we are living.

"Shame on him for doing what he has done."

Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

We’re hearing statements from people who thought they had bought funeral plans and thought their families were released from the worry of having to pay for funerals once they’d died.

So many are talking about the fact they gave Bush their savings or money from their pensions.

There was a lot of talk yesterday in court about how in comparison, Bush was spending thousands of pounds on motorbikes and jewellery.

"Conning", "robbed" and "cheated" are other words we’re hearing frequently this morning.

Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

The prosecution continues to read statements out on behalf of people affected by Bush's crimes.

Yesterday, Judge Mr Justice Hilliard said it was important that the court heard from everyone who wanted to have their say.