Funeral Director Faces Jail After Horror Discovery of Bodies and Ashes
A British funeral director is facing a lengthy prison sentence after a shocking scandal in which bodies were left uncremated and stored on racks, while grieving relatives were handed other people's ashes. The case has prompted renewed calls for stricter regulation of the funeral industry in England and Wales.
At the start of a five-day sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court on July 27, prosecutor Chris Paxton told the court that an ex-employee described Robert Bush's funeral parlour as a "horror scene." Police raided the premises of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull after a tip-off and discovered 31 bodies in a cold storage area that should have been cremated months earlier. Among them was a stillborn baby that had been there for nearly two years. Officers also found more than 100 sets of ashes.
'Bodies Stored on Racks' – Prosecutor Details Disturbing Conditions
“There were bodies stored on the racks on both sides of the room. The vast majority were uncovered and in varying states of decomposition,” Paxton said. The 48-year-old undertaker previously pleaded guilty to 67 offences spanning 12 years and affecting hundreds of victims.
In his first police interview, Bush claimed he had developed a cash-flow problem because "people did not always pay," and he had debts of about £90,000. He said he struggled with lease payments and believed there were about 30 bodies at one site, with five to six of them "recent" and awaiting cremation.
Prosecutor Rejects Financial Excuse, Cites £3 Million Income
However, the prosecutor dismissed financial problems as an explanation. Over £3 million ($3.9 million) was paid into the business between March 2017 and April 2024, with a single cremation costing £500 to carry out. “Mr Bush chose not to deal with those bodies entrusted to him but to operate as he chose and spend the money on himself and others,” Paxton said, adding that Bush had indulged in "profligate personal spending."
Bush arrived at court with his face covered with a baseball cap and scarf.
Victim's Mother: 'Distressing' Discovery of Son's Remains in Envelope
Jasmine Beverley, whose son Sunny was stillborn in May 2022, said Bush appeared "lovely" and presented himself as "very respectful." She recounted the shock of learning the truth: “It was a shock to learn what had actually been going on behind the closed doors. I discovered that he was still in there almost two years after we'd had the funeral.” Beverley said Sunny's remains were found in a brown envelope on the floor even though she believed he had been cremated, describing the discovery as "distressing."
Beverley, her husband, and other affected families are campaigning for changes to funeral parlour regulations, backed by a number of lawmakers.
Lack of Licensing Rules for Undertakers in England and Wales
Undertakers in England and Wales can currently operate without a licence, with anybody free to set themselves up as a funeral director. A statutory Funeral Director Code of Practice was introduced in Scotland last March. Bush, who ran Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, was trusted by bereaved families but mistreated them on an "almost industrial scale," Paxton said.
Police only began investigating in March 2024 after being contacted over concerns for "the deceased" at the business. The body of Muriel Winning, who died aged 61 in 2023, was found at the premises seven and a half months after her death. Her son Byron Lill broke down several times as he read out a statement to the court about the impact on him. “I work close to the Legacy premises... and drive past it every day. Knowing now that mum was lying inside for almost eight months destroys me. Why? There will never be a good enough answer.”
Over 100 Victims to Give Statements; Bush Admits Dozens of Charges
The sentencing hearing is expected to hear statements from over 100 victims. Bush has admitted dozens of charges, including preventing lawful and decent burial, theft, and fraud. Four of the fraud charges involved falsely presenting ashes to women as the remains of their unborn children.
