warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised. This story contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some readers discretion advised.
Former funeral director Robert Bush has finally admitted stockpiling 30 bodies in his struggling business and has been branded “cruel” for betraying grieving families.
On Thursday morning, the 48-year-old dad from Hull, pleaded guilty at the city’s crown court, to 30 counts of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.
He also admitted one charge of theft from 12 charities including the Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support. Bush changed his plea as his victims watched on.
They had previously branded him a “monster” and are demanding a change in the law to regulate funeral directors. One victim said, when he is sentenced at a later date, she hoped it would be for life.
Robert Bush was charged with 67 offenses in connection to the investigation ,into his business Legacy Funeral Directors based in Hull, after a repirt was received in March 2024 of concern for the care of the deceased.
Today he has pleaded guilty to all remaining charges against him which included prevention of a lawful and decent burial and theft.
This is in addition to the 36 charges that he had previously pleaded guilty to.
The utter devastation and emotional harm Robert Bush has caused to hundreds of victims and family cannot be underestimated.
They trusted he would look after those who meant the most to them and that he would treat their loved ones with dignity, respect , and in accordance with their wishes.-this did not happen.
31 families believed their loved ones had been cremated when in fact they’d remained on site within the legacy premises on Hessle Road.
Most had been given ashes and had been advised that the loved ones cremation had taken place.
Other families who had chosen cremations with legacy were left waiting for ashes that have never been provided
Or were deceived by Bush and given ashes that we now know not to be their loved ones.
The distress and devastation that this has caused for those families is simply unimaginable.
People paid Bush for funeral plans so that the future of their families they didn’t have to worry about, about the cost of their own funerals.
He betrayed this trust, leaving some victims and their families with the uncertainty around their own funeral arrangements and without means to pay for them.
The damage he has caused to families across our communities is quite possibly irreparable.
With so many victims who have suffered and continued to do so, losing a family member or friend or a loved one and care deeply about can be one of the most traumatic experiences you can go through and Robert bush took advantage of this.
Whilst he has admitted his guilt and ensured families and victims will not have to go through the ordeal of a trial , the harm and pain he has already inflicted can never be undone.
Our thoughts remain today , and always , with everyone affected.