Summary

  • Former funeral director Robert Bush betrayed grieving families "on an almost industrial scale", Hull Crown Court hears on the first day of his sentencing hearing

  • Bush, 48, from Otley, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to 67 offences including preventing the burials of 30 people and admitted giving families the wrong ashes from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull

  • Families are weeping in the public gallery as the prosecution explains how the bodies were found, writes our reporter from the courtroom

  • Bush was arrested on a plane at Heathrow Airport after returning from a trip to the US in March 2024

  • As he arrived in court this morning, he told reporters "I'm sorry" - but families say they are "appalled" he apologised to journalists but has never apologised to them

  • The daughter of one of Bush's victims says she is "broken", but adds that "it's a pivotal point in our recovery knowing that justice is being done"

  • Warning: this case contains details that some may find distressing

'I'm sorry', says funeral boss who gave families wrong ashes

Live Reporting

Edited by Jen Bateman, with Jessica Lane and Linsey Smith reporting from Hull Crown Court

  1. Victim's son pauses several times while reading statement out

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Byron Lill had to pause at times when he read his statement out. Several people in court are wiping tears from their eyes and one stood up and walked out while Lill spoke.

    The judge in this sentencing hearing is interrupting the lawyer speaking every now and then.

    He is trying to make sure he is clear of the details.

    He just checked in with Lill that his wife is here in court with him after he became clearly distressed when he was reading out his statement.

  2. People in court crying as victim's son reads his statement

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Byron Lill is speaking to the court now. His voice is cracking as he talks about his mum, Muriel Winning.

    "She protected us our whole lives and I couldn't repay her," he says.

    Someone in the public gallery is now audibly crying and others are wiping their eyes with tissues. Several people in court can be heard crying as Lill reads out his statement.

    Robert Bush is staring in front of himself or looking down as many people in court are crying or shaking their heads as they listen.

    He seems to be showing no emotion.

  3. Apology 'would not be enough'

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    A victim statement has been read out in court by Kathryn Howard, who used Legacy Funeral Directors after her partner, John, died from cancer.

    She says she was recommended the funeral company by a friend and her "world fell apart all over again" when she found out his body could be one of those involved in the investigation.

    She tells the court: “I was left not able to sleep, not eating properly, depressed and anxious over everything.

    "How could I trust anyone again?"

    Howard adds: "When I'm alone at night I think constantly, picturing John in that place when he should have been resting in peace.

    "I feel like I've let John down - by choosing Legacy, by trusting Rob Bush."

    She says an apology "would not be enough for me" and wanted Bush to know that she will "never, ever, get over this".

  4. People hold tissues and clutch at each other's hands as family statements read out

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Bush is staring ahead as the barrister has started to read out statements on behalf of the families he has affected.

    At one point, he looked down but is mainly staring straight ahead.

    In the public gallery, many people are holding tissues. Others are clutching each other's hands.

    One man's leg is constantly moving up and down while the court listens to details of what Bush has done.

  5. Bush's sentencing expected to last at least five days

    Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC previously told the court that up to 240 victim impact statements relating to the former funeral director’s conduct would be provided to the court prior to today's sentencing hearing.

    He said that the fraudulent trading related to funeral plans involving "over 150 individuals".

    The sentencing hearing of Robert Bush is expected to last at least five days.

    Bush previously admitted 67 offences, including 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial.

    Robert Bush points his head down while surrounded by press. He is wearing a dark suit, baseball cap and face covering.PA Media

    Bush arrives at court on Monday morning

  6. Bush told police he had 'cash flow issues' at funeral business, court hears

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    The court hears that Bush told police in an interview on 11 March 2024 that he had "only employed casual workers" and had cash flow issues at his funeral business.

    He had also explained to police during the interview that he "had no system of identifying where bodies were placed at Hessle Road as he had personally retained this information", prosecution tells the court.

  7. Bush 'sought to downplay' state of his premises, prosecution tells court

    Linsey Smith
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Bush denied that he ever told casual Legacy worker Patrick Moore to turn off refrigeration. He said that there were two units and only one needed to be turned on.

    "He had sought to downplay the state of his premises" in interviews, the prosecution says of Bush.

  8. Bush saved money by not running all refrigeration units, court told

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    The prosecution says Bush admitted he had been having issues with refrigeration and saved money by not running all the units.

  9. Body was found on stretcher on the floor, court is told

    Linsey Smith
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Families are weeping in the public gallery as the prosecution are outlining how the bodies were found, including how one body was found on a stretcher on the floor.

    There was also a sealed coffin on the floor. The area was dirty and unkempt. Flowers, rings and teddies and cards with messages had been swept to the sides on the floor.

  10. Watch: Moment Bush was arrested on holiday flight

    Robert Bush was arrested at Heathrow Airport on his return from the United States in March 2024.

    Bush was arrested on an aircraft at Heathrow Airport after he arrived home from a holiday in the United States in March 2024.

    He had flown to Los Angeles to watch motorcycle racing, one of his hobbies.

    Bush had bought a number of racing bikes and splashed out on expensive track days, often posting videos of his lap times on social media.

    When Bush was in the US, Humberside Police were contacted about the conditions at the Legacy building in Hull.

  11. Bush on holiday when he contacted funeral directors to help remove body, court told

    Linsey Smith
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Christopher Paxton KC, prosecuting, is outlining how the situation at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors came to light.

    Bush was on holiday in the United States on 6 March.

    While on holiday, Bush contacted Evergreen Funeral Directors to ask them to remove a body from a care home in Bourne Street, Hull.

    Mr Pickering and Mr Emerson, from Evergreen, were told by Patrick Moore, a casual worker for Legacy, "you don't know the half of it."

    He said bodies had been in there for years. Moore described it as "something of a horror scene".

  12. Bush's business situation was not dire but mismanaged, prosecution says

    Linsey Smith
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    The prosecution is now talking about Robert Bush's business and finances.

    In a seven-year period between 2017 and 2024, Bush was paid over £3m into his business account, which the prosecution says not all of which was declared to HMRC.

    They say Bush's business situation was not dire but mismanaged.

  13. 'Breached trust on industrial scale'

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    The prosecution has listed the 67 offences Bush is being sentenced for.

    The court hears from the prosecution that Bush was operating "within the heart of the community for around 14 years" and was "trusted by loads of bereaved families in their time of need to treat their loves ones with dignity".

    "He breached that trust on an almost industrial scale" and his offences "impacted young and old alike across the community of Hull and beyond", the prosecution adds.

    Judge Mr Justice Hilliard anticipates the sentence will be passed on Friday.

  14. Judge acknowledges interest in this week's proceedings

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    The judge has acknowledged that a lot of people are interested in the proceedings taking place in court this week for Bush's sentencing.

  15. Families warned of 'detached' language being used in court

    Linsey Smith
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    The prosecution has warned families about the "detached" language they will hear during proceedings this week, adding that this does not indicate a lack of sensitivity.

  16. Bush will be remanded in custody

    Linsey Smith
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    Bush has left the dock now. He spoke only to say, "I am," when asked to confirm his name.

    He has invited the judge to remand him in custody today, to which the judge says yes.

    A timetable of confiscation proceedings is now being set out and Bush has surrendered his bail.

    Bush mostly looks forward at the judge but his eyes regularly flicker to the families in the courtroom.

  17. Members of the public present alongside family and police for sentencing hearing

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    A second courtroom has been opened at Hull Crown Court to allow people to see what is happening inside court.

    Judges talk about the importance of people seeing justice done and today there is a real demand for that.

    Not only are there families, police and journalists in court. Today, members of the public are here too and want to see what is happening.

  18. What is expected in court today?

    Eleanor Maslin
    BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

    Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC told the court he will soon lay out his factual summary of the case before dealing with a legal summary.

    "The case of Robert Bush is fixed today and this week for sentence," he told the court.

    Preliminary matters are being discussed at the moment.

  19. Courtroom packed with victims' families as Bush takes to dock

    Linsey Smith
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    There are around 40 families in court room four today.

    Every single seat is taken. For most families, this is the first time they will have seen Bush's face since he conducted their loved ones funeral.

    He has refused to let them see his face so far, wearing a covering on every walk into court.

    He is standing in the dock wearing a grey suit, white shirt and mauve tie. He is holding a green folder.

  20. Courtroom opens as officials begin to enter

    Jessica Lane
    Reporting from Hull Crown Court

    The courtroom here is now open.

    Officials are going in first and then they have said family members can go in to make sure they can get seated.

    Those who are speaking in court today have been allowed in but others are still waiting.

    The courtroom is so full it looks as if some family members will have to watch online from another room.