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.

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.

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."

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.

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".

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

Eleanor Maslin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Defence barrister Richard Wright KC is now addressing the courtroom.

He says there has been "unprecedented global media coverage" over the past two and a half days, reporting what has been said in court.

"It might be said the world has listened after victim after victim of Robert Bush has bravely come forward to read a statement or had it read out on behalf of the Crown.”

Wright says that Bush has "heard the human cost of what he has done".

Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

Bush is looking ahead right now. He often rapidly blinks as people discuss things in court.

Mr Justice Hilliard is talking to defence barrister Richard Wright KC about dates and times involved in this case.

It covers not only lots of people but also a number of years.

The judge has talked about "systemic offending over a long period of time".

Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

Mr Justice Hilliard is back in court room four now and so is Robert Bush.

We’re expecting to hear from his defence barrister this afternoon.

Sarah-May Buccieri
Reporting from Hull Crown Court

We’re back in court room four at Hull Crown Court.

There are notably more press and a few more families here this afternoon.

Tissues remain scattered around the public gallery after another morning of harrowing evidence.

Ashes recovered during the police investigation have been reburied in two new memorial gardens.

More than 100 sets of ashes were interred, after next of kin had given instructions for them to be placed in Hull's Northern Cemetery.

A private service for families and loved ones was held by the Bishop of Hull, The Right Reverend Dr Eleanor Sanderson in September 2025.

The garden is one of two, with another at Lelley Fields Crematorium near Preston in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Robert Bush is back in Hull Crown Court today for the third day of his sentencing.

The former funeral director has pleaded guilty to 67 offences, including preventing the burials of 30 people and admitting to giving families the wrong ashes.

With the court now on a break for lunch, here's a reminder of some of the detail we've heard in the court so far today.

• The court heard how Bush assured families he would collect money for charities but that money was never received

• Grieving families were recommended to use Bush for funeral services, with one person told “he was the best”
• Between 2017 and 2024 the total amount of money paid into both Legacy and Bush’s personal accounts was more than £3.5m.
• The court heard graphic details of funeral parlour conditions
• Some of the ashes returned to families who had lost babies “resembled those of animal remains"
• Families had jewellery made with ashes of strangers before being contacted by Humberside Police

We will continue to bring you more from court throughout the afternoon.