A funeral director whose crimes caused “unimaginable trauma” to hundreds of families has been jailed for 20 years.
Robert Bush, 48, formerly of Kirk Ella, was sentenced at Hull Crown Court today (Friday, July 31) after admitting 67 offences connected to Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull.
He was also disqualified from being a company director for 14 years.
The sentence followed a five-day hearing during which families affected by Bush’s crimes came face to face with him in court and heard details of the harm caused by his actions.
Hull West and Haltemprice MP Emma Hardy responded to the sentence and reiterated her call for regulation of the funeral industry.
In a statement on social media, she said: “The actions of Robert Bush have shaken our community and caused unimaginable trauma to those families who have been impacted by his appalling crimes.
“To those families, you are always in my thoughts. The strength and dignity you have shown, not only this week when you faced Bush in court, but throughout the past two and a half years has been incredible.
“No sentence was ever going to fully reflect the pain and suffering that has been caused or provide complete justice for the families involved. However, this sentence of 20 years goes some way towards recognising the seriousness of these crimes and the profound impact they have had on so many people.
“I want to thank Humberside Police for the work they’ve done on this investigation, all of which led to today’s sentence.
“This moment is about the families and I will provide further comment on regulation later today.”
The investigation began after Humberside Police received a report on March 6, 2024, raising concerns about the care of the deceased at Legacy’s Hessle Road premises.
Over the following days, officers recovered the remains of 35 people from the building. A formal identification process established that only four should have been there at that time, with many of the others having remained at the premises far longer than necessary.
Bush was arrested at Heathrow Airport on March 10, 2024, after returning from America.
He was initially held on suspicion of preventing lawful and decent burials, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.
As the investigation developed, detectives discovered that families had been told their loved ones had been cremated when the cremations had not taken place. Some families had also been handed ashes despite their relatives not having been cremated.
Large quantities of human ashes were recovered from the premises, some of which had labels and letters attached.
Extensive forensic testing was carried out in an attempt to identify the ashes through DNA. However, specialists found that the high temperatures involved in cremation had destroyed the DNA to such an extent that identification was impossible.
Other families had never received the ashes of their loved ones and those remains were not found.
Police also uncovered fraudulent trading involving funeral plans. Payments made by customers had not been passed to the financial institutions that should have held the money.
Bush had also failed to send charitable donations, given by grieving families in memory of their loved ones, to the organisations for which they were intended.
At Hull Crown Court in October 2025, Bush admitted 36 offences but denied a further 31 charges.
A trial was due to take place, but at a further hearing on April 2 this year he pleaded guilty to all the remaining charges.
The offences comprised 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial relating to deceased people recovered from the Hessle Road premises between April 2023 and March 2024.
Bush also admitted 30 counts of fraud by false representation relating to families who had been told that their loved ones had been cremated and were provided with ashes.
Four further fraud charges concerned ashes provided to families following pregnancy loss. One of the unborn babies involved was later recovered from the funeral home.
A further fraud charge related to families who had either been given ashes before ashes identified as belonging to their loved ones were later found at the premises, or who had not received any ashes at all.
Bush also admitted fraudulent trading relating to funeral plans and one count of stealing donations intended for charities.
Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Alan Curtis said the case was the largest and most complex investigation in the history of Humberside Police.
He said: “From the moment this investigation began, our focus has been on the families left heartbroken by what happened at Legacy Funeral Directors.
“Behind every inquiry and every item of evidence was a person who had died, a family who had lost a loved one, all of whom were seeking answers and, where possible, some measure of resolution.
“The distress and heartbreak that this investigation has caused for families is simply unimaginable and, even after working on this case rigorously over the last couple of years, the sheer impact this has had on our whole community and further afield remains unprecedented.”
Det Supt Curtis said the public-facing side of Bush’s business had presented a façade of being organised and professional, while conditions behind the scenes were in complete disarray.
He said Bush controlled the finances, the care of deceased people and the cremations and had exploited families at one of the most difficult times in their lives.
He added: “The damage Bush has caused is quite possibly irreparable, with so many victims who have suffered and continue to do so.
“Losing a family member or friend you love and care deeply about can be one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can go through and Robert Bush took advantage of this.
“There is absolutely no sentence that can be given to Robert Bush that will undo the hurt that has been caused.
“Many families have had to relive the loss of someone they loved, while others will continue to live with questions that may never be answered.
“My hope is that today’s outcome provides some measure of resolution that Robert Bush has been held accountable for what he did.”
The investigation involved almost 3,000 exhibits, 12,000 disclosure items, 800 witness statements and more than 300 victims, although police said it was impossible to know the true number of people affected.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Walker said the impact of the crimes would be felt across Hull, the East Riding and further afield for many years.
He thanked the families for their patience and understanding, as well as the police officers, staff and partner organisations involved in bringing Bush to justice.
Laura Tams, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, described the offences as some of the most serious breaches of trust possible in the funeral industry.
She said families had approached Legacy seeking dignity and closure for their loved ones but had instead been subjected to appalling violations of trust.
East Riding Council leader Councillor Anne Handley said the authority supported calls for national regulation and a review of standards in the funeral industry.
She said: “We stand with the families and local businesses working in the funeral industry and support the call for national regulation and a review of standards to build trust in our communities.”
Hull City Council leader Councillor Mike Ross said regulation was needed to prevent such crimes from happening again.
He said: “It is absolutely clear that there needs to be regulation of the funeral sector, something so many are now calling for, to ensure that the dreadful acts that occurred in this case can never happen again.”
Julie Butcher, area manager for Victim Support Humberside, said free, independent and specialist support would continue to be available to anyone affected by the case.
She said: “Our thoughts today continue to be with family, friends and loved ones who have been affected by this case. This is one more significant moment in this case and will have a far-reaching effect.
“Victim Support has been available to support anyone affected by this incident since the start of the investigation and will continue to be available for contact.”
Anyone seeking support can visit www.affectedbycrime.com or call 0808 28 111 36 to speak to a member of the Victim Support team.