Legacy boss Robert Bush told police his arrest felt ‘vindictive’
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Disgraced funeral director Robert Bush told police “it feels vindictive” when he was arrested for a second time during the long-running investigation into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.
Bush, now 48, was initially arrested on a plane at Heathrow Airport on March 10, 2024, when he arrived back in the UK from a holiday in Arizona with his daughter.
Humberside Police has today released bodycam footage of Bush’s second arrest, at his home on July 3, 2024.
The footage shows Bush answering the door at 8.19am wearing a dark dressing gown as dogs bark.
A female officer informs him: “Hi Rob, we’re from the police – you’ve met us before, haven’t you?”
“Yeah,” replies Bush as he invites the officers in. “Boys!” he says to the dogs as the barking continues.
Once inside the property, the officer continues: “Rob, we’ve come to arrest you.”
“Right,” says Bush.
After Bush is cautioned, the officer reads from a sheet of paper and tells him: “The offences we’re arresting you for this time are preventing the lawful and decent burial of bodies, fraud by false representation, fraud by abuse of position and offences under section 921 of financial services, and theft.”
Bush covers his face with his hands before crossing his arms.
Then Bush, who speaks with a Southern accent and appears frustrated and indignant, says: “I don’t understand. I’m not like an international … you know I’ve been arrested off a plane at gunpoint, I’ve been taken, you know … it’s like I’m Che Guevara or something.
“I’m not that complicated and I’ve said so many times let me help you, no matter what it is I’ll come in and talk to you, and four months have gone by.”
When a male officer explains police have been gathering evidence, Bush throws his hands up in the air and says, “Yeah, but blind. You know, I’m not good at accounting, my handwriting’s bad and all that.
“I’m sure there’s times when you’ve looked at things and thought I don’t know what that means. But not once have I had a question since I’ve been released. I don’t understand it.”
The male officer says: “Obviously, with you being under investigation, Rob, the questions have got to come within an interview.”
After a further brief exchange, Bush says: “It feels vindictive, the way this has been done. I’ve been compliant from the word go. I came back early, on my own accord, and I was taken off a plane by flipping gunpoint, by massive, massive Met officers with their guns and all that.
“I mean we were coming home. I told you we were coming home. You knew where we were going to. We told you all our travel plans, everything.”
Bush’s apparent discontent with the process continues when he next appears in the footage dressed in blue jeans, a dark hoodie and blue Adidas trainers. He is seated on the stairs and says: “You know, we’ve seen everybody. If there’s anything you want just let me know. If I can help sort it out because it’s not that complicated.
“You ask the questions I’ll point you in the right direction. I’ve been compliant from the off.”
There is then a pause before Bush adds: “I’ve been here all this f*****g time.”
Bush, formerly of Kirkella and now of Otley, West Yorkshire, has pleaded guilty to 67 offences, including preventing the lawful and decent burial of 30 bodies, after one of the biggest and most complex investigations in Humberside Police history.
The offences are:
Counts 1 to 30 relate to preventing the lawful and decent burial of 30 bodies between April 20, 2023, and March 6, 2024.
Counts 31 to 60 relate to fraud by false representation and mirror counts 1 to 30 as they relate to the associated ashes fraud.
Count 61 relates to fraudulent trading over a period of 11 years, 10 months in respect of 226 victims totalling £562,117.00.
Count 62 is a ‘rolled-up’ count relating to fraud by false representation in relation to 57 sets of ashes between August 1, 2017, and March 6, 2024.
Counts 63 to 66 relate to fraud by false representation in relation to the foetal remains of four unborn babies.
Count 67 relates to theft from 12 charities between September 1, 2017, and March 6, 2024, totalling between £5,040 and £13,500 (the mean figure is £9,270).
Bush’s sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court began on Monday and is expected to conclude on Friday.