WARNING: This article contains details some may find distressing. The former Legacy funeral director is set to find out his sentence on Friday after Hull Crown Court heard from more affected families along with police officers who investigated his crimes
Police at Legacy Funeral Directors on Hessle Road, Hull, in 2024(Image: Donna Clifford/HullLive)
Police officers have described their “disbelief” and horror when they searched Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull with one saying it was the “worst experience of my career”. Robert Bush was in the dock again on Thursday for the fourth day of his sentencing hearing. He is set to discover his fate on Friday when judge Mr Justice Hilliard is expected to deliver his sentence.
Hull Crown Court heard statements from Humberside Police officers about the impact the search of Legacy’s premises on Hessle Road had taken. Bush, 48, formerly of Kirk Ella, but later of East Busk Lane, Otley, West Yorkshire, admitted a total of 67 offences related to his funeral business.
They include 30 offences of fraud by false representation to the families and 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial. He also pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading and offences of fraud by false representation to customers of Legacy or individual people as well as theft from a number of charities.
Police found 35 bodies and more than 100 sets of ashes when the business was raided. The court heard PC James Milligan, Humberside Police force lead for chemical, biological radiation and hazardous material, say the search of the Hessle Road premises in March 2024 had led to “disbelief” among colleagues. “We were all looking at each other in what I can only describe as disbelief”, he said. Regarding the tragic discovery of the remains of a stillborn baby in a bag he said that “for one of the few times in my life, it knocked the wind out of my sails”. He added: “I can’t remember what was said but I do remember that the mood within the team became quite dark, even angry.”
PC Milligan said that he would always be proud of the team. “In reflection, I will think back over my career of the hazardous incidents, the bodies recovered. The incident on Hessle Road will stay with me, the frustrations, the anger, the disgust, the sheer disrespect. When I think of the foetus recovery now, whilst completing this statement, it has surprised me that it still upsets me.”
In his statement, Humberside Police Sergeant Jason Sutcliffe said: “Finding the foetus will never leave my thoughts, and I was disgusted and deeply saddened. Luckily, I have had the support of my colleagues at the time, and this has helped me immensely. I am due to retire from the police shortly, and I can honestly say that this was probably the worst experience of my career.”
CSI supervisor Colin Jordan conveyed the baby’s body to the mortuary at Hull Royal Infirmary. He said: “This find had a profound effect on me and the whole team. This was by far the most upsetting part of the operation and still affects me now, when I am relaying the sequence of events.
“I find it difficult to put into words the indignity afforded to both those recovered and their families, but more so, the indignity afforded this foetus.”
He added: “When it upsets seasoned professionals, with many years of experience in the field of body recoveries, it is clear just how bad the conditions were. The DVI [Disaster Victim Identification] job is selfless and serves to give dignity to those who have been deprived of it.
“More than 30 families were deprived of the closure, they deserved in laying their loved ones to rest. It is humbling to know that we have done our part to restore dignity and decency to those deprived of it. Hull is a very close community and the effects of the discovery of those within the Legacy premises has been extremely wide reaching.”
‘Deeply saddening’ charity thefts
Among the many charities Bush took money from was WISHH (Working Independently to Support Hull Hospitals). Chair of the charity’s Trust, Sue Lockwood, said mourners had donated money in memory of a loved one to help pay for equipment for Castle Hill Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary. However, no money was ever received from Bush. She said it was “deeply saddening” what they gave will never reach the hospitals, adding: “We can do nothing to put right the dishonesty of the defendant.”
During the latest stage of the hearing, prosecutor Steven Ball read statements from more than 60 victims. Among them was former Hornsea vicar, The Reverend Christina Minett Stevens, who said: “I worked with Mr Bush professionally in my capacity as a vicar and found him to be a professional and empathetic person. It was therefore a shock to find that, he had not only mishandled the funeral arrangements for so many people, it was an even bigger shock to find that he had also defrauded myself and others through funeral plan frauds.
“I had initially assumed that this was a mistake he had made recently but to find it was deliberate over many years was hard to take. Professionally I felt very let down and acknowledged the deep hurt this had caused to many people.”
She added: “Personally, I was sick when I realised that he had lied to my face and taken my money with no intention of setting up my funeral plan and, because of our professional relationship, it made it all the worse and led me to question my own judgement. How on earth could I have been taken in by someone who seemed to be in the perfect profession?
“Like others, I felt stupid, and it has affected how I deal with others as a result of this experience. This is much harder to bear than the loss of the money, namely £3,451.” Like many of the victims she has been unable to secure a refund.
High Court judge Mr Justice Hilliard said some banks had refunded money to families who had been defrauded by Bush by not honouring funeral plans. Some families had invested life savings and others had lost over £6,000.
He said he hoped the publicity in the case at Hull Crown Court might persuade more banks to follow their example. “It would be good if they could,” he said.
In another case, Darren Renton said: “On the 11th June 2021, I pre-paid £2,000 for my mum’s funeral plan. After listening to what Robert Bush told me and my wife, we decided to return the following week to pay £2,000.
“Finding out our plans do not exist was difficult to hear. My mum is now suffering with the onset of dementia and is in a care home. The impact this has had on my mum, my wife and me feels like mental torture. Thankfully we’ve been able to recuperate the monies we lost. I hope the judge sees you, Mr Bush, for what you really are. Nothing but a liar, rogue and a cheat.”
The sentencing hearing is set to resume at noon on Friday. Mr Justice Hilliard asked the prosecutor to provide details of what money was in Bush’s bank account when he was arrested. The judge said Proceeds of Crime Action will be taken against Bush later this year.
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