A man has pleaded guilty to dozens of counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial after remains were found at a funeral directors in Hull in 2024.
Robert Bush, 47, formerly of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, has pleaded guilty today (2 April 2026) to a total of 67 charges, including the prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud, fraudulent trading, and theft.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecuted Bush following an investigation by Humberside Police.
Laura Tams, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Robert Bush has pleaded guilty to a number of charges in connection with the operation of the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors premises in Hull.
“These charges represent some of the most serious breaches of trust possible in the funeral industry. They include preventing the lawful and decent burial of bodies, defrauding families who paid for services never provided, returning wrong ashes to grieving relatives, fraudulent trading of funeral plans, and the theft of charitable donations made in memory of the deceased.
“The impact on the families and wider community has been profound. At their most vulnerable time, when seeking dignity and closure for their loved ones, these families were subjected to appalling violations of trust.
“I want to take this opportunity to share my deepest condolences to all those who have been affected. Learning that their relatives' remains had not received proper care, and that some received the wrong ashes, has caused immeasurable additional grief and trauma.
“This has been an extraordinarily complex and challenging case for our specialist prosecution team. Working closely with Humberside Police, we were able to review extensive evidence at pace to authorise these charges and build a comprehensive case that reflects the scale and severity of these offences. The defendant's decision to enter guilty pleas today acknowledges the strength of the prosecution’s case.
“While nothing can undo the harm caused to these families, today's guilty pleas represent an important step towards justice for all those who have suffered from these deplorable actions.”
Bush told families that he would care for their loved ones in accordance with the normal expected practices of a funeral director, and in many cases claimed he arranged a cremation immediately or soon after the conclusion of the funeral. He took payments for this service.
However, in March 2024, following a report of concern for care of the deceased, police attended the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors premises on Hessle Road, Hull, and found and recovered bodies which had purportedly had funerals and been cremated.
In many of the instances in which families had requested for a cremation they received ashes from Bush. The ashes received were not of their loved ones.
Bush had also been receiving money for funeral plans and keeping the money for himself.
Additionally, Bush stole money he had received from families who requested that the funds be sent to their chosen charities. Twelve charities say that they never received these donations.
The prosecution reviewed an extensive amount of evidence including material recovered from the scene, financial records, victim statements, and CCTV footage, to build a strong case which resulted in his guilty pleas.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Alan Curtis said: “The utter devastation and emotional harm Robert Bush has caused to hundreds of victims and families cannot be underestimated.
“They trusted he would look after those who meant the most to them, and that he would treat their loved ones with dignity, respect and in accordance with their wishes. This did not happen.
“Thirty-one families believed that their loved one had been cremated, when in fact they remained on site within the Legacy premises on Hessle Road. Most had been given ashes and had been advised that their loved ones’ cremation had taken place.
“Other families, who had chosen cremations through Legacy, were left waiting for ashes that have never been provided, or were deceived by Bush and given ashes that we now know were not their loved ones.
“The distress and devastation that this has caused for those families is simply unimaginable.
“People paid Bush for funeral plans, so in the future their families didn’t have to worry about costs and arrangements for their own funerals. He betrayed this trust, leaving some victims with the uncertainty around their own funeral arrangements and without the means to pay for them.
“The damage he has caused to families across our communities 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.
“He was trusted by people at a time they needed him most. He exploited them, taking their money without any consideration or thought given, and not delivering on his promise to provide the service and care he was paid to do.
“Whilst he has admitted his guilt and ensured families and victims will not have to go through the ordeal of a criminal trial, the harm and pain he has already inflicted can never be undone.
“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all my colleagues who were involved in this case, as well as the Major Crime Team, for their unwavering dedication and hard work in building a strong case against Robert Bush. Your commitment and resilience have been truly commendable, and I’m deeply grateful for the effort and care you have shown throughout this enquiry.
“The families and all those affected in this case have always remained at the heart of our investigation from the very beginning. Their understanding, support and contribution throughout the duration of the enquiry has been truly invaluable, and without them, we simply could not have achieved the outcome we have today.
“They have demonstrated extraordinary strength, resilience and courage in this case of unimaginable circumstances, and I want to offer my sincerest thanks and appreciation to them all.
“Our thoughts are with them today as it is with their loved ones, and everyone connected with the case.”
Humberside Police Assistant Chief Constable Andy Walker said: “This has been an extremely complex and sensitive investigation, with heartbroken and devastated families at the core of it.
“The selfish and deplorable actions of Robert Bush have deeply affected so many people, and we have always been determined to make sure that we kept those affected involved and at the heart of everything we have done, every step of the way.
“I want to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks to everybody involved, families for their patience and understanding as we progressed the case, officers and staff for their commitment to ensure Robert Bush was held to account and our partner organisations, who have been crucial in providing support and care to those in need.”
The defendant will be sentenced on 27 July 2026.
Notes to editors