Former undertaker Robert Bush appeared at Hull Crown Court on July 27, 2026, for the start of a five-day sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to 67 offenses, including preventing the lawful burial of 35 bodies discovered at his business premises.
Humberside Police raided Legacy Independent Funeral Directors on Hessle Road in Hull in March 2024 following suspicions raised by outside undertakers.
Investigators found dozens of unburied bodies in decaying states alongside more than 100 sets of uncremated human ashes and stolen charitable donations.
According to prosecutor Chris Paxton KC, officers uncovered remains left on stretchers and cold storage racks, including an 18-week stillborn baby wrapped in wristbands inside a paper bag.
Personal items such as flowers, cards, and teddy bears intended for the deceased were found swept across the dirtied facility floor.
Victims Describe Betrayal and Distress
Family members testified during the hearing, recounting how they were handed stranger ashes in decorative boxes and paper bags while their deceased relatives remained unburied at the parlor for months.
"Bush operated within the heart of the community for around 14 years, entrusted by hundreds of bereaved families in their time of need," said Chris Paxton KC, prosecutor.
"Bush took advantage of us when we were at our most vulnerable. He abused his position of trust.
Why?" said Byron Lill, victim relative.
Karen King, victim daughter, told the court she had placed the provided ashes into lockets after her father's passing before discovering his body was recovered from the parlor 10 months later.
"The smile on his face as he accepted it will always haunt me," she said.
Jayne Rimmington, victim daughter, described receiving wrong ashes: "I trusted him. He stood there smiling, handed me the box, when she was still laying there, rotting away.
It's a purely evil thing to do."
Rimmington explained that when collecting her mother's ashes in October 2023, Bush attributed the unexpected weight of the container to her mother's high bone density.
Vicky Mitchell, victim daughter, noted her father's body was recovered 198 days after his death despite receiving ashes in a craft bag.
"My opinion is he is a charlatan. A gravedigger from the 1800s.
He didn't care," she said.
Rea Burton, victim granddaughter, stated her family had initially planned to use the ashes for memorial tattoos before learning the truth.
"In reality, Rob had deceived us.
He had abandoned and hidden our loved one for months and had given us a stranger's ashes with a smile on his face," she said.
David Gorbutt testified that Bush uttered "Yes, they are definitely the right ones" when handing him a bag of ashes, which Gorbutt later scattered at a park before learning his wife's body was recovered six months after her death.
"It is hard to believe a person needs more permits to sell burgers than to deal with the dead," said David Gorbutt, victim husband.
Calls for Regulatory Reform
Multiple family members called for stricter regulatory oversight across the funeral sector as the hearing detailed theft of donations intended for local organizations like Hull's Fishing Heritage Centre.
Beverly Jackson, victim wife, noted her late husband chose the firm due to its local roots before donations in his memory went missing.
"His final wish was to be cremated at Legacy Funeral Directors on Hessle Road. To him it meant coming full circle...
We now live with deep regret for that decision," she said.
Sarah Jane Hepple, victim daughter, detailed the emotional distress of wearing jewelry made from ashes that belonged to a stranger.
"[Bush] discarded her like she was a piece of rubbish. Like she was nothing.
She was everything to us," she said.
Ron Marsh, victim son, said: "It has knocked our trust in professionals like doctors, undertakers and carers. I question if they're all as bad."
Nigel Hotham, victim nephew, expressed horror over the treatment of his uncle's remains. "What human being would allow another human being to be left like that?"
he said.
Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC noted regulatory gaps that allowed the firm to operate without routine inspections for years.
"In terms of enforcement... it is surprising to see a lack of on-site regulation and compliance," he said.
Mollie Finn, victim granddaughter, condemned Bush's actions as inhumane. "There are no words to fully capture the disgust I feel...
Justice must be served, not just for our family, but for every single person affected by this appalling crime," she said.
The five-day sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court will continue with additional victim impact statements before the judge delivers the sentence.
