Funeral boss Robert Bush defrauded 172 people of £562,000
The disgraced undertaker admitted to 67 offences including failing to bury or cremate remains and theft from charities.
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Robert Bush defrauded 172 people of £562,000 over an 11-year period, according to evidence presented at Hull Crown Court. The 48-year-old owner of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull admitted to 67 offences. These charges included theft from 12 charities and failing to bury or cremate individuals.
Victims struggle to recover funds
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Some victims remain unable to secure refunds for fake funeral plans. Maxine Hill told the court that her parents each paid £2,649 for plans that did not exist. While a bank initially refunded the money paid by her father, it later reclaimed the funds because there was no evidence he had received a product, as reported by the BBC.
“He came across as being just so nice and so placid.”
Maxine Hill, victim's daughter
Hill expressed distress over the impact of the fraud on her parents, who both died recently. She also told the court she remains uncertain if her husband's ashes were actually provided by Bush. Another victim, Anne Hillerby, told the court that Bush offered cash discounts to secure customers before defrauding them.
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Police discovery at the funeral home
The investigation began after two funeral directors from a different firm provided a tip-off. Bush was arrested at Heathrow Airport shortly after the tip-off. Upon searching the funeral home, police described finding a horror scene where bodies were kept on racks in a cold storage area and one was found on a stretcher on the floor.
Bush also admitted to fraud involving the ashes of 57 people between 2017 and 2024. He faced four allegations of fraud involving presenting ashes to women by claiming they were the remains of their unborn children. His barrister, Richard Wright KC, stated that Bush accepted his conduct tainted the memory of those he served.
The sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court continues.
Questions this report answers
+How much money did Robert Bush steal from victims?
Robert Bush stole £562,000 from 172 victims over an 11-year period. This figure represents the total amount defrauded, as confirmed during the trial at Hull Crown Court.
+What did police find when they searched the funeral home?
Police discovered a disturbing scene at the funeral home, including bodies kept on racks in cold storage and one body found on a stretcher on the floor. The investigation followed a tip-off from other funeral directors.
+Did any victims recover their money?
Some victims, like Maxine Hill's father, initially received refunds from a bank, but the money was later reclaimed due to lack of evidence that the funeral plans were provided. Many victims still struggle to recover funds.
+What happens next in the case?
The sentencing hearing for Robert Bush continues at Hull Crown Court. His barrister has acknowledged his misconduct, which has tainted the memory of those he served, but no final sentence has been delivered yet.
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