Funeral director Robert Bush defrauded hundreds of victims over 12 years, spending more than £42,000 on holidays, a court heard. The 48-year-old is being sentenced for 67 offences at Hull Crown Court.
Spending on holidays and hobbies
Financial records submitted to the court showed that between 2017 and 2024, Bush spent over £42,000 on holidays, £21,000 on motorcycle racing and £17,400 on home improvements. In the year he failed to cremate a baby, he spent more than £9,000 on camping and almost £7,000 on motorcycle racing.
Prosecutors detailed his holiday spending, including £6,400 on three trips to Center Parcs, £3,800 on a trip to Italy, and £3,000 on the holiday he was taking with his daughter in Arizona when the funeral home's crimes were discovered. The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, requested a detailed breakdown, stating: "I think people who have lost their money will want to know what it went on."
Records also showed almost £10,000 in retail spending, including £1,000 at Boodles jewellers, and £3,385 on restaurants, including £250 at Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden.
Fraud and theft on an industrial scale
Prosecutor Steven Ball told the court that between March 2017 and April 2024, almost £1.49 million was transferred into Bush's personal account from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors' business accounts. The total received in both accounts was more than £3 million, but the turnover reported to Companies House and HMRC did not reflect this.
Bush admitted to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial, theft from 12 charities, and multiple fraud charges. He kept 31 bodies, including an unborn baby in a paper bag, at his Hull funeral home while telling families they had been cremated and giving them the wrong ashes. He also sold false funeral plans worth more than £500,000 to over 200 people.
Mr Ball said: "Every person in a civilised society is entitled to dignity in death. Funeral directors are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism and compassion. Not to do so represents an egregious breach of trust."
Devastating impact on victims
Over two days, more than 80 people faced Bush or had their statements read in court. Many broke down describing his "callous" disregard. One victim, Mary Jane Roberts, collected £300 to £600 for Macmillan Cancer Support at her mother's funeral in 2022. Bush told her: "We'll take care of it, don't worry." She remembered thinking "how nice he was for giving them one less thing to worry about", but Macmillan never received the donation.
Police found an empty envelope labelled "Donations in memory of Matthew Craig. Thank you" during a raid, which should have contained donations for Dove House Hospice. Bush stole from 12 charities including the Salvation Army, Macmillan Cancer Support, Help for Heroes, and the RNLI.
Police were called to Legacy's Hessle Road premises in March 2024 after concerns were raised, finding 35 bodies and more than 100 sets of ashes. Bush pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial, theft from charities, fraud by false representation, and fraudulent trading.
