FUNERAL DIRECTOR JAILED 20 YEARS FOR LEAVING BODIES TO ROT

Robert Bush, owner of Legacy Independent Funeral Services in Hull, has been jailed for 20 years after pleading guilty to 67 offences spanning 12 years. The offences included 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial and affected hundreds of families. Bush, 48, from Otley, West Yorkshire, was sentenced at Hull Crown Court following a sentencing hearing that lasted between four and five days, during which more than 80 victims recounted their experiences to the court.

The court heard that bodies had been found uncovered and laying on racks in varying states of decomposition at Legacy's premises on Hessle Road. Damp and mould had spread to coffins and ash boxes, whilst dried body fluids and faeces had been left on the floor. Among the remains discovered was Sunny Beverley-Conlin, a baby stillborn at 18 weeks in May 2022, whose parents believed he had been given a funeral and cremated. Instead, Bush had left the infant's remains at the funeral home for almost two years. Mr Justice Hilliard stated that Bush's behaviour was "shocking and disgraceful", motivated by "financial greed", and that unless a body had been recovered and properly identified by police in 2024, no-one who had used Legacy's cremation services could be certain they had received their loved one's correct ashes.

The judge said Bush's conduct towards bereaved relatives was characterised by dishonesty, deception and heartlessness. Bush showed little visible emotion whilst listening to victim statements during the hearing, though he hung his head progressively lower as the week progressed. The judge noted that the 20-year sentence could not "put right the harm the defendant has done".