Legacy Funeral Directors boss admits deceiving mums of unborn babies

FRAUDSTER: Robert Bush, wearing cap and face covering, leaves Hull Crown Court

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

The former boss of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors has admitted multiple counts of fraud, including deceiving the mothers of four unborn babies.

Robert Bush, 47, pleaded guilty to 36 fraud offences at Hull Crown Court this afternoon.

He denies a further 31 charges – 30 of preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body and one of theft – and is due to stand trial on those charges next year.

It took 25 minutes for the court clerk to read the indictment and for Bush, who wore a grey suit and waistcoat, a white shirt and a mauve tie and stood with his hands clasped, to enter a plea to each charge.

His voice was barely audible as he answered “not guilty” to the first two charges put to him before a packed public gallery.

TRIAL: Robert Bush, pictured arriving at an earlier hearing, is due to stand trial next year

In total he denied 30 offences of preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body. Those offences are alleged to have taken place between April 20, 2023, and March 6, 2024.

Bush, formerly of Kirk Ella and now of Otley, West Yorkshire, then admitted 35 charges of fraud by false representation, which took place between April 21, 2021, and March 6, 2024.

He also pleaded guilty to one offence of fraudulent trading between May 23, 2012, and March 6, 2024.

The theft allegation is that between September 1, 2017, and March 6, 2024, Bush stole money from 12 charities: Salvation Army, Macmillan Cancer Support, CHIEF, Dogs Trust, Dove House, Help for Heroes, Health Stars, Oakwood Dog Rescue, RNLI, Sailors’ Children’s Society, WISHH, and Hull Fishing Heritage Charity.

Bush was released on conditional bail and his trial, which is expected to last eight weeks, is due to start at Sheffield Crown Court on October 5, 2026.