Former funeral director Robert Bush has apologised to families as he arrived at Hull Crown Court for the first day of his sentencing hearing
The courtroom is packed with families, who earlier told our reporter that they are "appalled" Bush apologised to journalists but has never apologised to them
Bush, 48, from Otley, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to 67 offences following a major police investigation in which officers removed 35 bodies and a quantity of ashes from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull in March 2024
Bush previously admitted preventing the burials of 30 people and giving grieving families the wrong ashes
He also fraudulently sold funeral plans and stole from 12 charities, including the Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support, a court heard
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"
For most families, this is the first time they will have seen Bush's face since he conducted their loved ones' funeral, writes our reporter from the courtroom
Warning: this case contains details that some may find distressing
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Linsey Smith
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
The body of Peter Moody, 65, was found by police alongside 34 others and more than 100 sets of ashes at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull in March 2024. One of the bodies had been there for a year.
His daughter Joanne Moody, 48, who is expected to join other families wronged by Robert Bush in the court's public gallery, said: "It's broke me, it's crucified me."
Moody said she could now "start remembering dad as he was, not thinking about Bush walking the streets", adding that she would "sleep easier" knowing the former funeral director would pay for his crime.
"It's a pivotal point in our recovery knowing that justice is being done," she said.
She described her father as a "dedicated" family man who enjoyed fishing, Hull FC and spending time with his grandchildren.
Image source, PA MediaVictims and their families have been waiting for justice since the investigation began more than two years ago.
Humberside Police described its inquiry as "complex, protracted and highly sensitive", triggered by a report of "concern for care of the deceased" in March 2024.
More than 120 officers and police staff, some from other areas of the country, worked on the case.
In total, there were 254 victims of Bush's crimes, with all the charges dating from a period between May 2012 and 6 March 2024, the force added.
Bush was arrested on an aircraft at Heathrow Airport after he arrived in the UK from a holiday in the United States.
Jessica Lane
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Families are gathered outside the courtroom at Hull Crown Court waiting to go inside. Many started arriving here at 08:00.
They want to see Robert Bush being sentenced, and they want their opportunity to have their say and explain to the judge - and to Bush himself - how his crimes have affected them and continue to affect them.
Linsey Smith
Reporting from Hull Crown Court
Families are saying they are “appalled” that Bush apologised to journalists but has never apologised to them.
The former funeral director said outside the court he was "sorry" and that he has submitted a letter to the court.
Image source, PA MediaPeople can be seen demonstrating outside Hull Crown Court ahead of the sentencing of Robert Bush.
The individuals are calling for the UK's industrial to be regulated after 35 bodies and more than 100 sets of ashes were found by police at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull in March 2024.