A funeral director who admitted to preventing the lawful burial of 35 bodies and defrauding grieving families has been revealed to have been fascinated by a 40ft fridge at his premises. Robert Bush, 48, pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial, theft from 12 charities, and multiple fraud charges.
Bush took over the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors on Hessle Road in Hull, where he was reportedly captivated by the large refrigeration unit. A source told the Mirror that Bush said the fridge was 'amazing' and could hold up to 100 bodies. However, the fridge later broke down and was used as storage, while bodies were stockpiled as Bush avoided paying cremation fees.
When police raided the premises, they discovered 35 bodies, not all kept in fridges, and the ashes of 67 people. Among the most distressing finds was the body of a stillborn baby boy, born prematurely in May 2022. His family had been given ashes and held a funeral, but two years later learned the ashes were not his. Police found the child's body still at the funeral home.
Bush also admitted to one charge of theft from 12 charities, including the Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support. He had previously admitted 35 counts of fraud by false representation and one charge of fraudulent trading. The court heard that four of the affected families were grieving parents who had lost a child.
The funeral director had been having financial problems for two years, with more than £60,000 in unpaid cremation fees. Despite this, he and his daughter Saskya, 24, who was later released without charge, enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, racing top-of-the-range motorbikes and taking holidays abroad.
The investigation began after concerns were raised about the business, which had taken over from Heavenly Services, a firm previously investigated for fraud. The scene at the funeral home was likened to a 'horror film', and a diving unit experienced in dealing with decomposing remains was called in. Bush is due to be sentenced at a later date.
