Robert Bush, the owner of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, has appeared at Hull Crown Court.
The Court was informed that he now faces a total of 67 charges as the Crown Prosecution Service, CPS, has added further.
Stood in the dock, behind glass, Bush, 47, who now resides in Otley in West Yorkshire, gave his pleas to each of the charges, showing no reaction to what had been read out.
Stood in the dock, behind glass, Bush, 47, who now resides in Otley in West Yorkshire, gave his pleas to each of the charges, showing no reaction to what had been read out.
Guilty pleas were entered by Bush to 36 charges, all of them relating to fraud by false representation and fraudulent trading.
For the remaining 30 charges that are for preventing a lawful and decent burial, Bush, formerly of Kirk Ella, showed no reaction whilst saying “not guilty” to all of the charges however.
The last charge of theft from charities, he also pleaded not guilty. Charities, include The Salvation Army, Help for Heroes, WISHH, RNLI, The Dogs Trust, CHIEF, Dove House, Maister Lodge, Oakwood Dog Rescue, Sailors Children Society, and MacMillan Cancer Support. It is alleged that he misappropriated the money for his own use.
Four of the fraud by false representation charges that Bush pleaded guilty to, involved families of unborn babies who had passed away.
He had sold funerals to the grieving parents, promising to provide funeral care, to arrange cremations soon after and return the ashes to the parents.
In total, Bush pleaded not guilty to 31 charges and guilty to 36 charges against him. He will be sentenced for the offences to which he has pleaded guilty after his trial has taken place.
HHJ Thackray KC scheduled Bush’s trial to begin on 5 October 2025 and to take place in Sheffield before releasing Bush on bail.
The case follows concerns raised by Legacy Independent Funeral Directors about the care of the deceased, which Humberside Police received on 6 March 2024.
The report sparked a police investigation in which 35 bodies and a quantity of ashes were recovered from the Hessle Road branch of the funeral directors’ company.
Later, Humberside Police confirmed that 165 families had been affected, with many not knowing whether they had received the ashes of their loved ones or, if they had, whether the ashes contained those of somebody else.
After the hearing, Humberside Police released a statement, whilst also saying that they are unable to comment further at this time “to ensure judicial proceedings are not jeopardised”.
“Robert Bush, formerly of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, has appeared at Hull Crown Court this afternoon, Wednesday, 15 October, and entered both guilty and not guilty pleas to the offences he is charged with in connection with the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors investigation.
“As read out in court, he has been charged with and has pleaded not guilty to:
• Thirty counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial in relation to the recovery of the deceased from the premises on Hessle Road between April 2023 and March 2024
• One count of theft from charities between 1 September 2017 and 6 March 2023
As read out in court, he has been charged with and has pleaded guilty to:
• Thirty counts of fraud by false representation in relation to the deceased recovered at the Hessle Road premise, who should have been cremated, and their families advised they had been and provided with ashes between April 2023 and March 2024
• One count of fraudulent trading in relation to funeral plans between 23 May 2012 and 6 March 2024
• One count of fraud by false representation in relation to either families provided with ashes of their loved ones, with ashes identified as their loved one later found at the premises, or families not receiving any ashes at all between August 2017 and March 2024
Four counts of fraud by false representation in relation to ashes provided to families following a loss in pregnancy, with one of the unborn being recovered from the premises. These families were provided with ashes between August 2017 and March 2024.
He has been bailed from court with conditions until his trial at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, 5 October 2026, for the offences for which he has pleaded not guilty.
“We are unable to provide any further details or information at this time to ensure judicial proceedings are not jeopardised. Further comment will be made available on conclusion of all court hearings, at which time the offences he has pleaded guilty to will also be dealt with.
“Victim Support continues to be available for anyone affected by the incident. If you require support, you can contact them by calling 0808 28 111 36.”