- In April, Bush pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial and theft from 12 charities.
- The sentencing at Hull Crown Court is listed for five days and is expected to hear from more than 100 victims.
- Bush apologized to families affected by his crimes as he arrived at court.
- Detective Superintendent Alan Curtis stated that the emotional harm caused by Bush cannot be underestimated.
- Bush gave grieving families the wrong ashes while their loved ones’ bodies were left at his site for months.
- Officers found 31 bodies that should have been cremated months earlier, including a stillborn baby that had been there for almost two years.
- Bush committed fraudulent trading in relation to funeral plans, taking payments but not passing the money to financial institutions.
- Bush admitted 30 counts of fraud by false representation and four “foetus allegations” of fraud.
- Over seven years, more than £3.7m was paid into Bush's accounts, with the total amount defrauded from customers exceeding £500,000.
- Bush 'breached trust on an almost industrial scale' by selling funeral plans without authorization and failing to bury bodies.
- The Crown Prosecution Service stated that Bush's actions were among 'the most serious breaches of trust possible in the funeral industry'.
- The impact of Bush's crimes on families was profound, causing 'immeasurable additional grief and trauma' due to improper care of remains.
- A family believed that the body of Danny Middleton was cremated, but police later informed them it was still at the funeral home.
- Michaela Baldwin stated that Bush was driven by 'pure greed' and described him as a 'monster' with no empathy.
Robert Bush, 48, is set to be sentenced in Hull for a series of fraudulent activities that spanned over a decade, impacting hundreds of families.
Bush, who operated Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, pleaded guilty to 67 offenses, including 30 counts of preventing lawful burial and theft from charities.18
His fraudulent practices included giving grieving families the wrong ashes while their loved ones' bodies were left unattended for months. Police discovered 31 bodies at his facility, including a stillborn baby that had been there for nearly two years.56
The investigation began after concerns were raised about the care of the deceased at his business in March 2024.
According to the prosecution, over £3.7 million was deposited into Bush's accounts from March 2017 to April 2024, with more than £500,000 defrauded from customers.91011
Detective Superintendent Alan Curtis stated, “The utter devastation and emotional harm Robert Bush has caused to hundreds of victims and families cannot be underestimated.”4
Bush's actions have led to profound emotional trauma for families who believed their loved ones had received proper care. One family learned months later that their relative's body was still at the funeral home, wearing a hospital band.
Bush, who has been described as a
“Over seven years, more than £3.7m was paid into Bush's accounts, with over £500,000 defrauded from customers. Detective Superintendent Alan Curtis stated that the emotional harm caused by Bush cannot be underestimated, highlighting the profound impact on families due to improper care of remains.”
The Independent
