Karen Dry, whose parents’ ashes may have been mishandled, described Robert Bush as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' who transformed from a 'consummate professional' to a 'Frankenstein.' Speaking to the Mirror, Dry said she may never know if she has her mum and dad’s ashes.
Bush's crimes and sentencing
Bush is being sentenced at Hull Crown Court for more than 65 offences committed over 12 years, affecting hundreds of victims and their grieving families. He pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial, along with charges including fraud, fraudulent trading, and theft.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard that Bush spent over £42,000 on holidays while defrauding grieving families. More than £3.3 million was paid into Legacy and Bush's personal accounts between 2017 and 2024, with around £1.7 million transferred to his personal bank account.
Victims' stories
Lucy Ness, who lost her baby during the Covid pandemic, discovered years later that the ashes she received were not her child's but animal remains. 'He ticked all the boxes, there were no red flags,' she said. 'A bit more investigation found that he didn’t give me my babies’ ashes, in fact he had given me animal remains.'
Kevin Moxon of Moxon’s Funeral Directors detailed grisly findings after Legacy was raided in March 2024: bodies in various states of decomposition, some stacked on top of each other, and a former driver who received the wrong ashes for his wife.
Police investigation
The crimes came to light when police found unidentified ashes in mouldy boxes at the Hessle Road premises. During his arrest, Bush accused Humberside Police of treating him like Che Guevara.
The sentencing hearing is expected to last five days, concluding Friday, with the judge hearing more than 100 victim impact statements.
