Victims of disgraced funeral boss 'unable to get refunds'

Victims of disgraced undertaker Robert Bush said they have not been refunded for the fake ceremonial plans he sold them, a tribunal heard. The 48‑year‑old defrauded 172 people over 11 years, amassing £562,000, Hull Crown Court was told. He previously admitted 67 offences relating to his business, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, including failing to bury or cremate the deceased, stealing from 12 charities, fraudulent trading in funeral plans and fraud. On the fourth day of his sentencing hearing, one woman said her parents, who each paid £2,649 for funeral plans, were not alive "to spot the justness they deserved". Another woman said she had not been refunded £5,000 for two policies. Wiping her eyes with a tissue, Maxine Hill told Mr Justice Hilliard that the bank refused to refund the money fraudulently taken by Bush, whom she knew personally. Bush visited her parents, Margaret and John, at their home and issued a handwritten receipt to the parent who paid him in cash. The bank initially reimbursed the amount paid by Hill’s father but, 90 days later, it reclaimed the funds, saying "there was nary grounds that helium hadn't received a product", the tribunal heard. Both parents have since died – Margaret in May 2024 and John in June 2025.