Ex-funeral director sentenced to 20 years after failing to bury and cremate dozens of people

Summary

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'

Live Reporting

Edited by Jen Bateman, written by Eleanor Maslin with Sarah-May Buccieri reporting from Hull Crown Court

Judge presses again on Bush's spendingpublished at 11:12 BST 29 July
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

We are hearing lots about money now.
Bush seems to have been taking £162,000 a year for himself although he was paying tax on about £13,000 a year.
He transferred an average of £52,000 a year to his wife.
So the couple were receiving more than £200,000 a year.
The judge has pointed out they were paying tax on a lot less than that. “What’s it gone on?” he asks again.
The answer is £1,000 on jewellery at one point and money spent at a restaurant in London’s Covent Garden.
Holidays, flights, hotels - Several thousand pounds a year was being spent by Bush on these according to the financial information.
'What's it all gone on?' - Judge asks about Bush's moneypublished at 11:06 BST 29 July
Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

In the public gallery, audible sighing can be heard as the prosecution continues to rattle through Bush’s accounts.
Mr Justice Hilliard asks the prosecution just exactly what Bush spent his earnings on.
“What’s it all gone on?” he asks.
Bush, still slumped in his chair, is now looking at the judge.
Blinking rapidly as his accounts are laid out in open court before him, it’s the first time this morning he has looked up for a considerable amount of time

Court hears about Bush's financial accountspublished at 11:03 BST 29 July
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

Steven Ball for the prosecution is now talking about Bush's income.
Between 2017 and 2024 the total amount of money paid into both Legacy and Bush’s personal accounts was more than £3.5m.
The turnover reported to the government did not "reflect these values" according to Ball.
Hull fishing charity didn't receive collection cashpublished at 10:57 BST 29 July
Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

We’ve just heard how one family member, Beverly Jackson, had arranged for a collection at the funeral of Peter Moody.
The collection was for a Hull fishing heritage charity on Hessle Road, the same road where Legacy had its premises.
Although Jackson says she saw people donating with cash on the day, the charity confirmed they never received any donation.
A charity, which the court hears, relies on donations and is run by volunteers.

Notes in 'large denominations' collected by Bushpublished at 10:54 BST 29 July
Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

The court is hearing of a collection for the RNLI in one instance.
Steven Ball said the family member recalls there being notes in "large denominations” among the donations collected.
The family say they believed Bush was going to “handle” the donation. But the charity never received that money.
'No donations ever received'published at 10:52 BST 29 July
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The court is hearing victim impact statements read out by charities including Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Checks were carried out by Salvation Army with "no donations ever received" in the name of someone that had donated money through Legacy, the court hears.

Charity statements continuepublished at 10:47 BST 29 July
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

Bush hangs his head low as the prosecution lawyer continues to meticulously go through each charity.
Steven Ball says some of these charities rely on donations. Donations they never received.
Donations to dog rescue never receivedpublished at 10:43 BST 29 July
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

One woman trusted Bush to collect donations which would go to Oakwood Dog Rescue following her mother's funeral.
"Shirley loved animals and would often donate to animal welfare charities," Michelle Jones said, on behalf of her mother, Shirley Jones.
The court hears that Bush told Michelle Jones he would “take care of the collection and forward it to the charity in her mother’s name".
Jones recalls a charity donation being present at her mother's funeral, and donated to it herself.
Oakwood Dog Rescue say there was “no record of any donations provided to them by Bush or Legacy during 2023."

Local charities among those with missing donationspublished at 10:41 BST 29 July
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

Dove House Hospice and Help For Heroes are two more charities we’re hearing about now.
We know that police found envelopes which were meant to contain the charity donations when they raided the Legacy offices as they’ve told us that in court before.
Many of the charities are small local ones. Health Stars and Oakwood Dog Rescue, as well as the RNLI which is important to lots of people.
Each time it would have been a few hundred pounds which was collected and each charity has confirmed they didn’t receive money.
Grieving families were told Bush 'was the best'published at 10:38 BST 29 July

As the prosecution barrister Steven Ball is running through the list of charities which did not receive donation money another theme has emerged.
Grieving families were recommended to use Bush for funeral services, with one person told “he was the best”.
Another remembered how “nice” Bush was for giving them “one less thing to worry about”.

'We'll take care of it, don't worry', family told about donationspublished at 10:31 BST 29 July
Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

The court is hearing from the prosecution lawyer who is talking about donation money which Robert Bush had collected at funerals which should have been sent to charities.
In one instance, the court heard how Bush had said to one grieving family member “we’ll take care of it, don’t worry”, in relation to the donation money which should have been sent to MacMillan.
The money was never received.
Charities did not receive donationspublished at 10:30 BST 29 July
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Prosecution barrister Steven Ball said the court will deal this morning with statements from charities Bush has admitted theft from.
Judge Mr Justice Hilliard says there is an estimate of up to £13,500 not given to charities.
Twelve separate charities were affected.
Police were contacted by members of the public who were worried charitable donations collected at funeral services run by Legacy Independent Funeral Directors weren’t handed over.

Bush in court for third daypublished at 10:28 BST 29 July
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

Bush is wearing a dark suit again. Since he came into court he’s been sitting mainly with his head down.
It’s how he’s appeared for most of the time here.
Court prepared for strong emotions and griefpublished at 10:21 BST 29 July
Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

Tissue boxes are scattered around the public gallery this morning, there is one in reaching distance of nearly every seat.
It gives a sense of the emotional toll this case is having on those who walk through the court doors, whether it be to give victim impact statements or to support their loved ones.

Hearing now under waypublished at 10:19 BST 29 July
Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The third day into the sentencing of Robert Bush is now under way.
Judge Mr Justice Hilliard has begun to discuss matters with prosecution barrister Steven Ball.
Police officers supporting families through the hearingpublished at 10:18 BST 29 July
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

In court every day there have been about a dozen Humberside Police employees.
Many of them are supporting the family members as they’ve stood up in court to speak.
But they have had to listen to the very difficult stories hour after hour.
There is a sense that people here doing a job are also taking on board the emotion that is evident.
Lots of people are checking in to see how colleagues are coping.

The scene at courtpublished at 10:10 BST 29 July
Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

A steady stream of journalists have arrived in court this morning.
The room remains quiet, with some talk amongst legal representatives and in the public gallery.
It’s notably less busy compared to the past two days, some seats are spare.
But this day marks the third day in the sentencing process, closer to the hope of justice many families are wanting.
Background to fraud charges and theft chargespublished at 09:55 BST 29 July

Image source, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors
The court has been hearing from families who used Legacy Independent Funeral Directors and wanted to tell Robert Bush about how his crimes had affected them.
In addition to the 30 unlawful burial charges Bush also admitted 35 counts of fraud by false representation, relating to the proper care of remains and the return of ashes.
He has 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.
In addition, he admitted to one charge of stealing money from charity collection boxes.
The donations, in memory of loved ones, were made at funeral services Bush organised.

Fewer families outside court this morningpublished at 09:42 BST 29 July
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

The court has just opened the main doors. Today there aren't as many people waiting to come in.
On Monday and Tuesday the seats outside Court Room Four were getting full by this time - with loved ones waiting to stand in front of Robert Bush and tell him how they feel about what he did.
We’re expecting the hearing to begin at 10:00 BST for the third day of proceedings.
Court to hear third day of victim statements after funeral scandalpublished at 09:35 BST 29 July

This morning Hull Crown Court will hear from more of those affected 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 Tuesday, mothers described the devastation of being told the ashes they had cherished were not those of babies they had lost in pregnancy.
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 victims for a third day, our reporters inside Hull Crown Court will bring you their victim impact statements - this page will contain details some may find distressing.