Funeral director whose parlour was 'horror scene' splashed tens of thousands on holidays, motorbikes and shopping

A funeral director whose parlour was a "horror scene" and who gave the wrong ashes to dozens of grieving relatives splashed out tens of thousands of pounds on holidays, motorbikes, restaurants and home improvements.

Robert Bush who is being sentenced at Hull Crown Court for 67 offences, spent £42,000 on holidays to America, Italy and Centerparcs over a seven-year period to 2024.

On one trip to Meadowhall in 2019 he spent £790, £1,000 at the jewellers Boodles on 2018 and £246 dining at Clos Maggiore, a fashionable French restaurant in Covent Garden.

Another £17,411 went on home improvements and he spent £21,000 on motorbikes over the seven years, with a total of £21,644 going on “camping-related” activities.

The court has heard that police discovered a “horror scene” at the premises of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, where dozens of bodies had been stored on racks in varying stages of decomposition when they should have long since have been buried or cremated.

Bush, 47, formerly of Kirk Ella, has admitted charges including preventing a lawful and decent burial, fraud, fraudulent trading, and stealing cash donations intended for a dozen charities.

On Wednesday Hull Crown Court heard it was difficult to know how much had been spent as his recordkeeping “left much to be desired”.

The court previously heard that Bush claimed he was in debt to the tune of £90,000 and he had cashflow problems.

And he declared earnings of an average of just £13,436 a year to HMRC, when in fact some £162,000 a year were going into his personal accounts.

Over the seven years Bush transferred £369,612, an average of £52,802 a year, to his wife Vicky.

On Wednesday the court also heard more details about donations stolen from charities.

Police estimate that Bush stole between £5,000 and £13,500 from charities including RNLI, Help for Heroes and the Salvation Army.

The court previously heard over a seven-year period to 2024, £3.1 million went into Bush's personal and Legacy's business accounts.

Mary Jane Roberts, who used Legacy for the funeral of her mother Lynne Wheal, who died in March 2022, believes as much as £600 was left for Macmillan Cancer Support inside a collection box in the chapel at Legacy, Stephen Ball, prosecuting, told the court.

Bush said: "We'll take care of it, don't worry. "You will receive a letter, but I will be in touch with you before that."

However Macmillan confirmed it had not received a donation from Legacy.

An empty envelope titled "Donations in memory of Matthew Craig. Thank you" which were intended for Dove House Hospice were found in a safe at the Hessle Road funeral parlour.

Bush had told Matthew's mother Jayne Waudby that his wife dealt with that side of things.

Bush also stole money left at the funeral of Janet Reid, an Army nurse in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

Her husband Ian had been told he was "one of the best". The service in March 2024 went so well that her husband Ian tipped Bush and his employee £50 each. Help for Heroes never received the donation.

Philip Hoyle, the partner of Mary Ann Howcroft, who died in November 2021, wanted to give something back to the ward at Hull Royal Infirmary, to say thank you for her care. He noticed at the funeral that the collection box was full and it was "difficult to get more banknotes inside", and he estimated there was £500 inside. When Mr Hoyle enquired Bush told him he would drop it off at the hospital.

The WISSH charity confirmed it has not been received.

The case continues.