Former funeral director admits abandoning dozens of bodies and stealing charity funds

During a hearing at Hull Crown Court, former undertaker Robert Bush admitted to 67 charges, including failing to bury or cremate the deceased. Investigators uncovered 35 bodies in various stages of decay and over a hundred ash boxes stored in unsanitary conditions at the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors premises on Hessle Road. Prosecutor Steven Ball detailed mould-covered coffins, excrement on floors and ashes left on damp surfaces, describing the environment as a "horror scene."

Bush also sold fraudulent funeral plans to around 200 families, generating more than £500,000, and siphoned donations meant for charities such as the Salvation Army, Macmillan Cancer Support, Help for Heroes and the RNLI. Financial filings revealed over £3.3 million paid into the firm and Bush's personal accounts between 2017 and 2024, with minimal tax reported despite a personal income of roughly £162,000 per year. The case came to light after a tip-off from rival funeral directors, leading to Bush's arrest at Heathrow Airport while he was on holiday.