Disgraced funeral director Robert Bush has arrived for his second day in court listening to victim impact statements after spending his first night in custody. Bush, 48, was remanded in custody on Monday and will learn his fate on Friday after days of hearing heart-wrenching statements at Hull Crown Court.
Victims describe trauma and loss of trust
Victims revealed they suffer from PTSD, endure nightmares and have lost trust in people. One told the court: "If you can't trust an undertaker who can you trust?"
Bush is being sentenced for more than 65 offences over 12 years, involving over 300 victims and grieving families. The case came to light when two funeral directors, asked to collect a body for Bush while he was on holiday in Arizona, discovered a 'horror scene' at his premises.
Police uncover mistreated remains and fraud
They found 31 bodies that should have been cremated months earlier, including a stillborn baby that had been there for almost two years. More than 100 sets of ashes were recovered, some with name labels and letters attached. Investigations revealed Bush had given grieving relatives the wrong ashes, and had committed fraudulent trading with funeral plans, taking payments but not passing them to financial institutions. He also stole donations meant for charities including the Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support.
In April, Bush pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial and theft from 12 charities.
Impact statements read in court
On the first day of sentencing, Bush arrived at court to face bereaved families and campaigners calling for reforms. In the foyer, he stood alongside families, flanked by police. When asked by journalists if he had a message for the families, he said: "Yes, I'm sorry."
During the hearing, Bush avoided eye contact with victims as statements were read. Among those heard was Christina George, whose brother Raymond Dagnall died in July 2023. She said Bush used the phrase 'Bless you', but she later learned her brother's body was left in a soiled hospital gown. "These words used to sound endearing, peaceful and comforting," she said. "Now they just make me feel sick and the hairs prickle on the back of my neck."
Jayne Rimmington described how Bush 'smiled' as he handed over a box of ashes that did not belong to her mother, Shirley Wright, whose body lay in the funeral home for six months. Rea Burton's family created mementos using a stranger's ashes after being told by Bush that putting the ashes into necklace charms was a 'brilliant idea'.
The judge is expected to hear up to 200 victim impact statements. Sentencing is listed over five days at Hull Crown Court. Bush, formerly of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, but now of Otley, West Yorkshire, has been remanded in custody.
