Funeral Director's Obsession with 40ft Fridge Uncovered in Gruesome Hull Scandal
Disgraced funeral director Robert Bush expanded his empire in Hull to three businesses after becoming enamored with a giant 40ft refrigerator for storing bodies. However, when police raided his premises, they discovered a scene of horror, with storage capacity overflowing and a sickening fraud exposed.
A Growing Empire Built on Deception
Bush moved into new premises near Hull docks, captivated by the "massive" refrigeration unit. He was delighted with his growing funeral empire, which included his third and largest branch. Yet, the fridges at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors on Hessle Road could not keep pace with his fraudulent activities.
He avoided paying cremation fees by stockpiling bodies, and when shown around the business, he was informed about lockers containing at least 20 sets of unclaimed ashes. The "friendly" funeral director promised to return them to families, but instead, he is believed to have used them to hand out to other families, further evading cremation costs.
Courtroom Admissions and Distressing Discoveries
Today, Bush pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to 30 counts of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body. He also admitted one charge of theft from 12 charities, including the Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support. Last October, he confessed to 35 counts of fraud by false representation and one charge of fraudulent trading. Among the affected families were four grieving parents who had lost a child.
During the police raid, officers were reportedly overwhelmed by the smell, discovering 35 bodies, not all of which were kept in fridges. His prized 40ft fridge had broken down and was being used as a cupboard. Authorities also found the ashes of 67 people.
The most distressing discovery was the body of a stillborn child, a baby boy born prematurely in May 2022. His family had been given ashes and held a funeral, only to learn two years later that the ashes were not his. Police later found their son's body still at the funeral home.
A Scene Straight from a Horror Film
The scene that greeted officers was likened to a "horror film," necessitating the involvement of a diving unit experienced in handling decomposing remains. At the time of the raid, Bush, 48, was believed to be out of the country, but he and his daughter Saskya, 24, who worked with him, were eventually arrested. Saskya was later released without charge.
Despite their lavish lifestyle, which included racing top-of-the-range motorbikes and frequent holidays, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors had been facing financial difficulties for two years. The business was on the verge of being struck off with over £60,000 in unpaid cremation fees.
Previous Investigations and Unresolved Claims
Bush had taken over the building from Heavenly Services, which had also been investigated for fraud claims. The probe began in November 2021 but was dropped when owner Simon Woolston, 51, died. Woolston was looked into for fraudulent pre-paid funeral plans, and the firm was dissolved in June 2022, leaving many customers unlikely to recover their money.
Locally, there have been online claims that Woolston may have faked his own death and fled overseas. However, a relative denied this, stating he died of sepsis at Hull Royal Infirmary and providing a death certificate as proof.
How It All Began
A source, who asked not to be named, explained how Bush became involved: "He heard the previous funeral director had died and got in contact. He had a look round and said he was amazed at the set up. He seemed particularly taken by the 40ft fridge for the bodies. He said he didn’t trust anyone so didn’t use staff, only his family."
The source added, "When he saw the boxes of ashes left there, from relatives who had not picked them up, he promised to get them back to their loved ones. Now we fear he had other plans for those ashes. He’s shameful."
Bush was given a five-year lease on the condition that the premises were returned to their original state, with all shelving and fridges removed. The investigation continues as authorities piece together the full extent of this shocking betrayal of trust.
