A funeral director is facing jail time after admitting that he prevented the burials of 30 bodies and stole donations made to charities by mourners.
Robert Bush was arrested by police in March 2024 after authorities had investigated Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, following a report about a 'concern for care of the deceased'.
Now living in West Yorkshire, he has pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court today (2 April), to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial, and one of theft from 12 charities.
These included the Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support.
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The Brit also admitted to presenting families with the ashes of strangers and even fraudulently selling funeral plans, with his sentencing set for 27 July.
It is reported that Bush was in financial trouble and did the unthinkable to raise money.
The BBC further report that Judge Mr Justice Hilliard stated that a 'custodial sentence is inevitable in this case', before releasing him on bail.
After an investigation found human remains at the premises, which also includes four babies who were lost in pregnancy.
According to Humberside Police, all the charges dated from a period from May 2012 to 6 March 2024.
The Sun reports that Norman Bridger, 94, was one of his victims, as his body had been there for almost a year before police discovered the remains.
The publication adds that he earned £1,600 each time, for cremations which never happened.
In court, the clark took 10 minutes to read out 31 charges, as families of the victim compared the situation to 'a horror movie', as another said: “They should throw away the key. What he has done is unhuman.”
The police operation was one of the biggest and most complex ever carried out, spanning over 10 months and involving 130 officers, with 13,000 exhibits obtained.
A dozen relatives of the victims were present in the public gallery, with Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC telling the court that there would be 240 victim impact statements from those who had been affected by the horrific case.
They will be presented before the sentencing hearing, as he added: "The fraudulent trading relates to funeral plans involving over 150 individuals."
Michaela Baldwin's stepfather Danny Middleton was in his 70s when he died in November 2023, and his body was one of the 35 which were found at Legacy's premises.
Baldwin said outside court to the BBC: "What hurts us is that Bush has pleaded guilty but he is allowed to walk out of court today. He should have been remanded."
She claims that he was motivated by money, referencing his demeanour in court by saying: "He didn't look any of us (victim's families) in the eye.
"The judge should throw the book at him."
Det Supt Al Curtis said outside court that the 'utter devastation and emotional harm cannot be underestimated' when it comes to Bush, as he caused families 'unimaginable' distress and 'irreparable' damage to communities.
He spoke of the 'extraordinary strength' shown by affected families who were involved in the investigation and lost loved ones.
The funeral director had admitted 35 offences of fraud by false representation, and a separate offence of fraudulently running a business.
This charge was in relation to the sale of funeral plans.
However, Bush previously denied 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial, as well as one count of theft relating to charitable donations.
Joshua Nair