A funeral director has been accused of breaching the trust of bereaved families on an industrial scale, according to a court hearing in Hull.Robert Bush, owner of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, was found to have stored over 35 bodies and more than 100 sets of ashes in unsanitary conditions.The scale of the fraud was uncovered when two funeral directors from another firm discovered 29 bodies during a routine check.Prosecutors described the scene as a 'horror scene' with bodies in varying states of decomposition, including a stillborn baby.Bush, 48, admitted to 67 offences, including preventing lawful burials and theft from charities.

Families described the emotional devastation of learning their loved ones' remains were mishandled, with some stating they felt violated and unable to move on.

The court heard over £3m was paid into Bush's accounts between 2017 and 2024, with funds allegedly used for personal expenses rather than proper burials.The case highlights systemic failures in the funeral industry and the severe impact on grieving families.