Latest news with #RobertBush
Sky News
5 hours ago
- Sky News
Robert Bush: Funeral director in court after investigation into remains found at his premises
A funeral director has appeared in court charged with 63 offences, spanning more than a decade, after a major investigation into human remains found at his premises. Robert Bush, 47, faces 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial and 30 counts of fraud by false representation, relating to bodies found at the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors site on Hessle Road in Hull, in March last year. Those charges date from between April 2023 and March 2024. He has also been charged with one count of fraudulent trading in relation to funeral plans and one count of fraud by false representation in relation to human ashes. These charges are between May 2012 and March 2024, and August 2017 and March 2024, respectively. The 47-year-old is also accused of theft from 12 charities: the Salvation Army, Macmillan Cancer Support, CHIEF, the Dogs Trust, Dove House, Help for Heroes, Maister Lodge, Oakwood Dog Rescue, RNLI, Sailors Children's Charity, WISHH and Hull Fishing Heritage Charity. Bush, formerly of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, but now of Otley, West Yorkshire, attended a five-minute hearing at Hull Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and address. He was not asked to indicate any pleas as the charges and names of 30 alleged victims were read out. Bush was told 30 of the charges could only be dealt with at a crown court, and his case was adjourned until 13 August, when he will appear at Hull Crown Court. He was bailed with conditions to attend a local police station every day from Monday to Friday. The charges of fraud - relating to named victims - allege that Bush falsely claimed: • He would "properly care for the remains of the deceased in accordance with the normal expected practices of a competent funeral director" • Bush would "arrange for the cremation of those remains to take place immediately or soon after the conclusion of the funeral service" • And he would ensure "the ashes presented to the customer were the remains of the deceased person after cremation". Humberside Police launched its investigation into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors across three premises in Hull and East Yorkshire in March last year.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
Man appears in court charged with 63 offences after funeral home investigation
A funeral director has appeared in court charged with 63 offences spanning more than 10 years after a major investigation into human remains found at his premises. Robert Bush, 47, faces 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial and 30 counts of fraud by false representation relating to bodies found at the firm's Hessle Road site in Hull in March last year. The charges date from between April 2023 and March 2024. He has also been charged with one count of fraud by false representation in relation to human ashes between August 2017 and March 2024, and one count of fraudulent trading in relation to funeral plans between May 2012 and March 2024. Bush is also accused of theft from 12 charities; the Salvation Army, Macmillan Cancer Support, CHIEF, the Dogs Trust, Dove House, Help for Heroes, Maister Lodge, Oakwood Dog Rescue, RNLI, Sailors Children's Charity, WISHH and Hull Fishing Heritage Charity. Wearing a dark grey three-piece suit with a purple tie and pocket square, Bush spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the five-minute hearing at Hull Magistrates' Court. He sat behind his solicitor in the courtroom and was not asked to indicate any pleas as the charges and names of 30 alleged victims, some of whose families attended the hearing via video-link, were read out. Bush, formerly of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, but now of Otley, West Yorkshire, was told that 30 of the charges could only be dealt with at crown court, and his case was adjourned until August 13 at Hull Crown Court. District Judge Daniel Curtis bailed him with conditions to attend Bridlington Police Station every day from Monday to Friday. Bush left court by the back entrance, wearing a baseball cap and dark glasses, with a police car driving in front of the car he was in as it left. The 30 charges of fraud relating to named victims allege that he dishonestly made false representations claiming that he would 'properly care for the remains of the deceased in accordance with the normal expected practices of a competent funeral director', 'arrange for the cremation of those remains to take place immediately or soon after the conclusion of the funeral service' and that 'the ashes presented to the customer were the remains of the deceased person after cremation'. Humberside Police launched an investigation into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors across three premises in Hull and East Yorkshire in March last year.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Funeral director appears in court accused of fraud and 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial after human remains were discovered at parlour
A funeral director has appeared in court charged with 63 offences spanning more than 10 years after a major investigation into human remains found at his premises. Robert Bush, 47, faces 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial and 30 counts of fraud by false representation relating to bodies found at his firm, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, in Hull in March last year. The charges date from between April 2023 and March 2024. He has also been charged with one count of fraud by false representation in relation to human ashes between August 2017 and March 2024, and one count of fraudulent trading in relation to funeral plans between May 2012 and March 2024. There are said to be 50 alleged victims of the charge relating to human ashes and 172 victims of the fraud relating to funeral plans. Bush is also accused of theft from 12 charities; the Salvation Army, Macmillan Cancer Support, CHIEF, the Dogs Trust, Dove House, Help for Heroes, Maister Lodge, Oakwood Dog Rescue, RNLI, Sailors Children's Charity, WISHH and Hull Fishing Heritage Charity. Wearing a dark grey three-piece suit with a purple tie and pocket square, Bush spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the five-minute hearing at Hull Magistrates' Court. He sat behind his solicitor in the courtroom and was not asked to indicate any pleas as the charges and names of 30 alleged victims, some of whose families attended the hearing via video-link, were read out. Bush, formerly of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, but now of Otley, West Yorkshire, was told that 30 of the charges could only be dealt with at crown court, and his case was adjourned until August 13 at Hull Crown Court. District Judge Daniel Curtis bailed him with conditions to attend Bridlington Police Station every day from Monday to Friday. Bush left court by the back entrance, wearing a baseball cap and dark glasses, with a police car driving in front of the car he was in as it left. The 30 charges of fraud relating to named victims allege that he dishonestly made false representations claiming that he would 'properly care for the remains of the deceased in accordance with the normal expected practices of a competent funeral director', 'arrange for the cremation of those remains to take place immediately or soon after the conclusion of the funeral service' and that 'the ashes presented to the customer were the remains of the deceased person after cremation'. Humberside Police launched an investigation into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors across three premises in Hull and East Yorkshire in March last year.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
Director of funeral home where 35 bodies ‘left to rot' & human ashes recovered by cops appears in court
THE director of a funeral home where 35 bodies "left to rot" and human ashes were recovered by police has appeared in court. A huge probe was launched into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull after a report of "concern for care of the deceased". 2 2 Robert Bush, 47, was charged with 63 offences in total - including 30 counts of preventing an unlawful and decent burial. This relates to bodies recovered from the premises between April 23, 2023, and March 6, 2024. He is also accused of 30 counts of fraud by false representation in relation to the "deceased" removed from the home. The fraud charge related to human ashes between August 1, 2017, and March 6 last year involving 50 victims. Bush appeared at Hull Magistrates' Court today where he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address. The names of the 30 alleged victims were read to the court as some of their families watched via video-link. Bush was bailed on the condition he attend Bridlington Police Station every day from Monday to Friday. He will next appear at Hull Crown Court on August 13. Bush is also charged with theft from 12 charities; the Salvation Army, Macmillan Cancer Support, CHIEF, the Dogs Trust, Dove House, Help for Heroes, Maister Lodge, Oakwood Dog Rescue, RNLI, Sailors Children's Charity, WISHH and Hull Fishing Heritage Charity. He has also been charged with one count of fraud by false representation in relation to human ashes between August 2017 and March 2024, and one count of fraudulent trading in relation to funeral plans between May 2012 and March 2024. Humberside Police previously said the charges came after a "complex, protracted and highly sensitive" 10-month investigation. A month after the probe was launched in March last year, officers received more than 2,000 calls from families concerned about their loved ones' ashes. The force confirmed it was impossible to identify any of the human ashes using DNA profiles. Deputy Chief Constable Dave Marshall confirmed there were 254 victims in total, of which 172 had been affected by fraudulent trading of funeral plans between May 23, 2012, and March 6, 2024. He said: "We have updated the families of the 35 deceased with this development and we have made initial contact with additional victims who have been affected by the investigation and we will be personally in touch with them in the coming days. "As the investigation now moves into the courts and judicial process, I would please ask people to refrain from any speculation or commenting that could prejudice or jeopardise the case, and to allow those affected to get the answers they desperately need and rightly deserve. "My sincerest thanks go out to those affected for their patience and understanding. "They have always been the priority and at the very heart of the entire investigation and this will remain, and we would please ask their privacy is continued to be respected." A 55-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of money laundering was released with no further action.
The Independent
13 hours ago
- The Independent
Funeral director in court accused of preventing lawful burial after remains recovered from Hull parlour
A funeral director has appeared in court police charged with 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial after a police raid recovered remains from his Hull parlour. Robert Bush, 47, is also accused of 31 counts of fraud by false representation over bodies found at a Legacy Independent Funeral Directors site. No pleas were entered when he appeared at Hull Magistrates' Court on Wednesday for a brief hearing. He has also been charged with one count of fraudulent trading in relation to funeral plans sold between May 2012 and March 2024, and one count of theft from charities including dog charities, the RNLI and the Salvation Army. Humberside Police launched an investigation into the funeral directors across three premises last March after the force received reports of 'concern for the care of the deceased'. A number of bodies were recovered from the firm's Hessle Road site in Hull. Following an 10-month investigation, they announced in April that Mr Bush had been charged. He faces a total of 63 offences. Mr Bush, of Otley, West Yorkshire, was bailed to appear at Hull Crown Court on 13 August. More about Humberside Police East Yorkshire Hull
