Hull funeral home director pleads guilty to fraud | UK news

A funeral director has admitted multiple charges of fraud, including misleading the parents of unborn babies, after a pile of human remains was found at his premises in Hull.

Robert Bush, 47, was charged this year with 64 offenses, including 30 counts of obstructing lawful funerals and fraudulent dealing, related to funeral plans for 172 people spanning almost 12 years through March 2024.

He was also accused of fraud involving the ashes of 50 alleged victims and theft from 12 charities over six and a half years.

Bush appeared at Kingston-upon-Hull crown court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to 36 counts of fraud involving misleading the families of the deceased. Among them were the parents of four unborn babies.

He pleaded not guilty to obstructing the proper and lawful burial of 30 people and denied stealing money from 12 charities, including the Salvation Army and Aid to Heroes.

Bush, who came to court wearing a baseball cap and a face covering, showed no emotion as he entered the defense from behind a glass-enclosed dock. He stood with his hands clasped in front of him as the court clerk read the details of the 67 charges against him; This process took almost 30 minutes.

Judge John Thackray told KC Bush he will stand trial for these offenses at Sheffield crown court on October 5 next year. The trial is expected to last eight weeks. He was released on bail.

His arrest followed a tip to Humberside police regarding the care of the deceased; This led to a major investigation, followed by what one senior officer called a “truly horrific” discovery in March 2024.