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Robert Bush, a former funeral director, has had his bank accounts and assets frozen as authorities attempt to reclaim funds taken from those he victimized. At Hull Crown Court on Friday, Bush received a 20-year prison sentence for 67 offences. These crimes included failing to provide 30 individuals with proper burials and giving families ashes belonging to strangers. He operated Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, where he deceived people by selling fake funeral plans and embezzling up to £12,000 from charities.
Laura Tams KC, deputy chief crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, highlighted the prosecution’s focus on pursuing the financial aspects of the case. She stated, “We will be looking at him, at the financial aspects of this case, to see if we can confiscate any of the proceeds of his crimes and try to compensate the families.” Mr Justice Hilliard noted during sentencing that Bush “benefited very substantially” and “obviously lived very well,” underscoring the extensive duration and scale of the criminal activities. Tams further explained that this was not a situation born from recent hardship but instead had become a deliberate business practice for Bush.
The court also revealed disturbing details about the extent of Bush’s misconduct. He left the remains of a stillborn baby unattended on the floor for two years and provided incorrect ashes to grieving parents. While defense lawyer Richard Wright KC acknowledged Bush’s previous good character, he attributed the crimes to “greed, incompetence and an inability to keep up with his own failings.” Despite claiming financial difficulties in police interviews, evidence showed Bush took home £162,000 a year and transferred £52,000 annually to his wife, with additional expenditures on holidays. Between 2017 and 2024, over £3.5 million was deposited into accounts associated with Legacy and Bush personally.
Bush’s lifestyle contrasted starkly with the chaos found at his funeral parlour during a police raid. He lived in an affluent area of East Riding of Yorkshire before moving to Otley, West Yorkshire, under bail conditions, and was known for his passion for motorcycle racing. Deputy chief prosecutor Tams described the case as “shocking,” drawing attention to the breach of public trust. Investigators uncovered fraudulent trading in funeral plans affecting more than 200 people who had believed their payments were safely invested. Families were misled over a period extending back to 2012. Tams emphasized that the prosecution worked to build a “robust” case to ensure justice for the affected families. Furthermore, Bush was found to have stolen from 12 charities, unlawfully diverting donations intended to honor loved ones. The total misappropriated from charity boxes was estimated between £5,540 and £12,000 over six and a half years.
The case has prompted calls from some families for greater regulation within the funeral industry, which Tams acknowledged had “really serious and fundamental flaws.” She expressed deep concern that Bush’s business was allowed to operate unchecked for such a long time. Bush’s offenses have exposed significant weaknesses in oversight, sparking conversations about the need for reforms to protect vulnerable families during bereavement
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