Inside 'horror movie' funeral home as bodies left to decompose and personal items strewn across floor
As a funeral director is sentenced for preventing the burial of 30 bodies, images of his ‘horror movie like’ premises have been revealed.
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The photographs show a chaotic scene; half built home-made coffins, racing bikes stored next to trollies used for bodies, personal items strewn across the floor and bags of human ashes.
Robert Bush, who’s 48, has admitted 30 counts of prevention of a lawful burial, 35 counts of fraud by false representation and fraudulent trading, as well as theft from charities.
The remains of a stillborn baby were also found in a paper bag on the floor.
Images released by Humberside Police show in detail what was described during Bush’s sentence as "dirty and unkempt".
There were even some cars stored at the back of the premises and motorbike leathers hanging up next to a wheelchair.
Many of the victim impact statements during the sentencing spoke about "odd" or "foul smells" at the premises at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, and one photograph shows an air freshener in the workshop.
Funerals were held for many of the deceased and ashes given to their families, only for their bodies to be found at the site in March 2024.
The ashes received by families, were not those of their loved ones.
During sentencing, the court heard from a report by Dr Richard Lloyd, a forensic scientist and former funeral director who explained how how bodies were found in various states of decomposition, with at least 17 beginning to show a state of "putrefaction" in the mortuary.
On inspection, it was determined "bodies had been simply abandoned for nature to take its course".
Personal items were found scattered in the premises, including clothes meant to dress the deceased, family photographs and a teddy "in a pool of bodily fluids".
When he was arrested off a plane at Heathrow airport, Bush was heard on police body worn footage saying "I’ve f***ed it all up. Everything. My whole world. It’s all on my shoulders, I’m solely responsible".
In his police interviews, Bush told officers he had made “poor choices” referencing "financial difficulties".
On why the bodies hadn’t been cremated, Bush told police: "With the debts I’d accrued, it presented an opportunity that I didn’t have to do it immediately and if I held on to them I could back fill and catch up, but I didn’t catch up".
One of the bodies recovered from the site, Norman Bridger, who’d died aged 97, had been lying in the storage facility for almost a year still wearing the clothes he’d died in.
Bush explained to police: "I didn’t have the right paperwork, otherwise I would’ve quite readily got him sorted.
"I should’ve contacted bereavement services and told them what happened. But then I suppose that would’ve revealed everything."
Speaking to LBC, Norman’s granddaughter Natalie Smith said: "It’s been difficult to deal with. My mum was going through personal difficulties at the time. Since this happened, we’ve had other bereavements in the family which this has impacted. You have instant distrust."
Joyce Moulton’s body was recovered from the site 6 months after her death. Her family tried contacting Bush on several occasions to collect her ashes, but those calls went unanswered.
Her son, Ron Marsh, said "What happened to my mum is unthinkable. You think you can put your faith in funeral directors, but it has knocked our trust in professionals, like doctors, undertakers and carers."
Jayne Rimmington collected what she believed were the ashes of her mum, Shirley Wright, she commented on how heavy the ashes were.
She told the court, “Mr Bush told me it was probably due to my mum’s bone density. I was told a photograph of dogs was recovered with mum.
"This both shocked and upset me. Mum didn’t have any dogs, she didn’t even like them and we had not left any photographs with her."
Vicki Mitchell was given what she believed were the ashes of her dad, Colin Wainman, in a cardboard box in a hobbycraft plastic bag.His body was recovered 6 months after he died.
Further body worn camera of Bush’s second arrest, at home in July 2024, shows Bush telling police he felt this was "vindictive".
"I’ve been arrested off a plane at gun point. It’s like I’m Che Guevara or something. I’m not that complicated.
"I’ve said on so many occasions, let me help you. It feels vindictive the way this is being done."
Judge Justice Hilliard is due to pass sentence on Friday.