Summary

  • Warning: this case involves distressing details

  • There have been gasps and cries at Hull Crown Court as the crimes committed by disgraced former funeral director Robert Bush have been detailed

  • An expert who analysed ashes that should have belonged to a baby says some of the ashes appeared to come from an adult

  • Prosecutors have also set out how donations collected at funerals were never passed on to the intended charities

  • Bush has "heard the human cost of what he has done", his defence barrister says, telling the court "greed and incompetence" likely played a role in Bush's actions

  • Bush, 48, is being sentenced for 67 offences, including denying 30 people a decent and proper burial and fraud charges relating to presenting families with the ashes of strangers

  • He will be sentenced later this week, after the families' statements

Media caption,
'I'm sorry', says funeral boss who gave families wrong ashes
  1. One of the 'most serious' criminal acts suffered by Macmillan in years, charity sayspublished at 16:15 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    Another statement has been made by a charity, this time read out on behalf of Lee Duddridge, representing Macmillan Cancer Support.

    Duddridge says the statement is made "following the admission of guilt by the defendant to a charge of theft".

    The statement reads: "For every penny stolen, those people that need Macmillan's help may not be able to receive it."

    It adds: "The impact of this case extends far beyond mere financial losses.

    "This case represents one of the most serious and highly publicised criminal acts suffered by Macmillan and many others in the 10 years since the inception of the counter fraud team and the detrimental effect on public confidence in charitable giving is accordingly significant."

  2. A sombre mood in court as upsetting details keep comingpublished at 16:07 BST

    Sarah-May Buccieri
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    The atmosphere inside court room four at Hull Crown Court is heavy as we move through the afternoon.

    Statement after statement is being read out describing victims' experiences.

    Every now and again a sigh will be heard, or in the case of graphic details, a gasp.

    The mood is sombre and consistently upsetting for those sat in the public gallery.

  3. Victim says father was 'laid out on a decorator's pasting table'published at 16:02 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    Caszandra Long used Legacy for her father's funeral, and in a statement read on her behalf described the funeral director's premises on Hessle Road as "like sitting inside a caravan, it was small and inadequate".

    "We had to shuffle into the room to see my dad, where he was laid out on a decorator’s pasting table," the statement adds.

    Long thought the money donated at her father's funeral service would be going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

    She described it as "disgusting beyond words" that the charity money was taken by Bush.

    "I find it overwhelming to even think about how someone could do this," the statement adds.

    "People are desperate for answers."

  4. Daughter 'disgusted' collection money didn't go to charitypublished at 15:55 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    Lisa Youlton, in a statement read on her behalf, says she is "disgusted that the charity collection money was not given to Dove House Hospice".

    She used Legacy for her mother when she died.

    She says she had trusted Bush to send the charity collection money to Dove House Hospice, which had been "very close to my mum's heart".

    "Because of everything that has happened I have struggled with feelings of doubt over the ashes we received.

    "I also feel deeply for the other families who have been affected and what they must be going through."

  5. Mother describes how Bush wouldn't let her see son for 'final goodbyes'published at 15:53 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    A statement was read out on behalf of Jayne Waudby who used Legacy for her son Matthew Craig, who died aged 30.

    Waudby says Bush "wouldn't let me see him to say our final goodbyes", which is something that "haunts" the family "every day".

    She says Matthew wanted all proceeds from his funeral collection, which more than 100 people attended, to go to Dove House Hospice, where he had spent his last three weeks.

    "There must have easily been well over £500 in cash and others donated online which went straight to Dove House.

    "It was left to Robert Bush to sort and send Matthew's donations on as he was paid to do so at this very distressing time, which we trusted him to do."

    Waudby's statement goes on to say: "No money was forwarded to Dove House Hospice."

    "Robert Bush has caused so much unnecessary suffering to add to this very traumatic time of losing a very much-loved family member."

    "Words cannot describe his vile and deliberate actions," the statement reads.

  6. A quick look back at what we've heard in court todaypublished at 15:48 BST

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    We have heard a broad range of topics discussed in court today.

    This morning we heard about Bush’s spending habits and expensive hobbies, then to graphic details about the way people’s bodies were treated at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, then to hearing Bush’s own barrister talk about how "greed and incompetence" were likely to have played a role in Bush's behaviour.

    We are now hearing again from more victims of Bush’s crimes.

    That’s included charities which didn’t receive donations left at funerals and the family members of those whose funerals Bush had been responsible for.

  7. Dogs Trust says Bush's actions could have reduced donationspublished at 15:34 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    A statement has been read out on behalf of Emma Hamilton, from the Dogs Trust charity.

    It reads: "We care deeply about every donation, so knowing there could be people out there who felt hurt by our lack of response is truly upsetting for us."

    She says as a result of this, they "could have lost out on future donations" which are "valuable" to the charity.

    Prosecutors earlier said donations collected at funerals were never passed on to the intended charities.

  8. Victims describe devastation that loved ones' final wishes weren't honouredpublished at 15:23 BST

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    We’ve been hearing today about the charity donations which were made at some funerals and the 12 charities which say they didn’t receive the money intended for them.

    It’s been pointed out that often collecting for a charity is a person’s final wish and so mourners try hard to find a donation to leave in their memory.

    It has been described as devastating by people in court that the money, and their loved one’s final wishes, weren’t honoured.

  9. 'I will never know for sure if I have mum's ashes'published at 15:21 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    Mary Jane Roberts is now reading her victim statement through tears, on behalf of her mother who she used the funeral directors for.

    At the time, Roberts says she felt like Bush had gone "above and beyond for her and made us feel like he loved his job so much that mum was like family to him".

    She says she had even given Bush a card containing £150 as a thank you to him for "everything he had done for us".

    When she heard the news about the investigation, she says she "felt sick about how stupid I'd been".

    She adds: "He said bless you all the time and it felt sincere when he said this but it obviously wasn’t.

    "I will never know for sure if I have mum’s ashes or not.

    "We had jewellery made of mum’s ashes and I can no longer bring myself to wear it in case it’s not mum."

    She says money which was meant to go to Macmillan Cancer Support also was never received.

    "It was never about the amount of money, it was about what the money meant. Not just to me, but to mum."

  10. Bush briefly meets victim's gaze as she describes impact of his actionspublished at 15:17 BST

    Sarah-May Buccieri
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    As the second victim impact statement of the afternoon is read out Bush continues to keep his head low and avoid the gaze of the room.

    This afternoon we’ve also heard from his defence team, who say he is sorry and accepts blame.

    One victim says she is envious of families who have had burials and cremations performed correctly.

    As she ends her statement, she glances at Bush, who looks up to meet her eyes. It’s brief, but they catch each others gaze.

  11. What should have been 'sacred' has 'become a source of deep pain'published at 15:02 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    Karen Jones is now reading out her victim impact statement to the court.

    She used Legacy Independent Funeral Directors to provide services for her mother as well as her uncle David.

    She says: "I still have my uncle David’s ashes. I’m unsure what to do with them, my whole family is unsure.

    "This could be someone else's loved one that we have and it makes me question who it is.

    "I'm angry with Robert Bush. What should have been a very sacred and dignified process has become a source of deep pain."

    She says she was also left disturbed over what happened to the collection money at her mother's funeral, which was supposed to go to an animal charity.

    "It has left me feeling appalled that something like this could happen.

    "They were not just casual donations, they were part of their last wishes."

    Jones says it felt like "a violation of her [her mother's] memory".

  12. Bush's only words in court have been to confirm his namepublished at 14:59 BST

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    For the last half hour or so the court has been hearing from Bush’s defence lawyer about why he did what he did.

    The court heard that he acknowledges the pain he has caused, and he was described as having been "publicly humiliated".

    Families have been saying in their statements that they wanted to hear from Bush and find out why he committed these crimes.

    Bush has so far only spoken in court to confirm his name, on Monday.

  13. Defence request a 'grounded approach' to sentencingpublished at 14:52 BST

    Sarah-May Buccieri
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    The defence say they want a "just" but "grounded approach" to sentencing.

    Bush remains looking forward for this section while his defence barrister Richard Wright KC is speaking.

    Bush rarely glances to his right - where the families, the public and press are sitting.

    But people in that part of court are looking at him.

  14. Bush has been 'treated as a pariah, hated and despised', his defence sayspublished at 14:47 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    Defence Richard Wright KC says: "Mr Bush was a man of good character, he’s lost his good name, his livelihood, his place in the workplace, a profession that depended entirely on trust."

    He tells the court that Bush has been "treated as a pariah, hated and despised", which Wright acknowledges was due to his actions.

    He adds: "He was a man who had his own family, his offending has devastated their lives as well as those of his victims.

    "I advance those matters cautiously, they don’t excuse his offending.

    "It simply reveals there is another side to the man."

  15. Sighing heard from public gallery as defence continuespublished at 14:46 BST

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Richard Wright KC for the defence acknowledges Bush’s admissions do not undo the harm caused, but argues his admissions stopped a denial of responsibility and he has submitted himself to the consequences of his conduct.

    He continues and says Bush accepts he will receive a significant custodial sentence.

    Everyone watching in court still looks gripped and very focussed on Bush’s barrister who is speaking.

    Someone behind us in the public seats is sighing every now and then.

  16. Bush looks up as defence describes role of his 'greed and incompetence'published at 14:39 BST

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Bush looked up briefly as his barrister suggested to the court that "greed, incompetence and an inability to keep up with his own failings" all played a part in his crimes.

  17. 'Greed and incompetence' likely played a part in Bush's behaviour, defence sayspublished at 14:36 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    Defence barrister Richard Wright KC says Bush has accepted responsibility and apologised for what he has done.

    "There are demands for answers. Where did the money go? What was it spent on?

    "The questions assume there are clear answers to explain his behaviour," Wright tells the court.

    He lists reasons which were "likely to have played a part" including "greed and incompetence".

    Wright says: "There’s no doubt his priority was not his customers or their loved ones.

    "That lack of priority may be the best explanation that there is.

    "In other words that he prioritised himself, his family and his circumstances over those who entrusted their deceased to his care."

    Wright adds: "That may sound callous but that is perhaps the most sensible explanation there is in his case."

  18. Defence reiterates Bush's apologypublished at 14:29 BST

    Sarah-May Buccieri
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Richard Wright KC remarks that he acknowledges Bush's offending has caused “extreme emotional pain, anguish and upset”.

    “Dignity in death matters and there can be no hiding from the fact by his conduct Robert Bush has deprived the dead... of that basic dignity”.

    Wright accepts Bush’s criminal conduct has tainted the memory of every person who has passed through his hands.

    There have been many glances at Bush while his defence is speaking.

    Wright says Bush has said sorry. Behind me a tut was heard at that remark.

  19. 'We do not seek in any way to minimise what he has done'published at 14:25 BST

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    Before making the defence submissions for Robert Bush, Richard Wright KC says: "We do not seek in any way to minimise what he has done.

    "He accepts entirely that this case is not simply about money.

    "It is about the families that placed their trust in him in moments of profound grief."

  20. Families listen to Richard Wright KCpublished at 14:24 BST

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    As Bush’s defence barrister starts to speak acknowledging the pain and distress Bush has caused, families in court are watching closely.

    Most are staring at the judge. Bush looks up at the judge every now and then.