Families given the wrong ashes by a fraudulent funeral director have given heart-wrenching statements in court, telling of their pain and guilt that they could not “protect” their loved ones.

A five-day sentencing hearing is under way for Robert Bush, 48, who kept the bodies of 31 people, including a stillborn baby, at his Hull business Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.

One hundred sets of ashes were discovered at the site, some with name labels and letters attached to the box.

Bush in April pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial, and theft from 12 charities including the Salvation Army and Macmillan Cancer Support.

He had already admitted 30 counts of fraud by false representation relating to bodies found at the site, and four “foetus allegations” of fraud, where he presented ashes to women falsely saying that they were “the remains of their unborn”.

Bush also pleaded guilty to a further charge of fraud, covering the ashes of 57 people between 2017 and 2024, and one of fraudulent trading relating to funeral plans between 2012 and 2024.

Several relatives read their own statements at the sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court on Monday, with some pausing as they became emotional.

Bush listened to the statements from the dock, looking down but showing no visible reaction.

Norman Bridger, 94

Norman Bridger’s body was recovered from Legacy premises, in a cardboard coffin, 10 months after his death.

His family had already had a funeral for him, and his daughter, Karen King, had lockets for her and her mother containing the ashes given to her by Bush.

In a statement read in court, Ms King said she struggled with the fact that her father was still in the grey T-shirt in which he had died.

She said: “It just shows to me that Bush did not care for him or respect him as he promised he would.

“My lovely dad lay in a cardboard coffin for almost 11 months. It is beyond belief.

“I’ll never know why. It feels he was just forgotten.

“When the police officers knocked on my door and gave me the news that dad may still be at the funeral home, the feelings I had were overwhelming.

“My partner, David, and I broke down in tears. How could someone be so cruel? Why would he just leave him there?”

Jonathan Butler, 73

Jonathan Butler’s body was recovered from Legacy eight months after his death.

His partner Kathryn Howard stopped several times to compose herself while reading her victim impact statement.

She said: “I feel like I’ve let John down – by choosing Legacy, by trusting Rob Bush.

“I just can’t believe what that man has done. How can he hurt people like that? Would he do it to his own family, treat them this way?

“An apology would not be enough for me. It could never take away the pain and grief that I feel for enduring not one but two funerals for my lovely John. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

Muriel Winning, 61

Muriel Winning’s body was recovered from Legacy seven months after her death.

Her son, Byron Lill, had already been given some ashes that he thought were those of his mother by Bush, and had them on his window sill.

Particular care was taken by the family to prepare Mrs Winning and dress her in her wedding dress.

Ashes believed to be those of her mother, Pauline Campbell, who died in April 2022, were also found.

Mr Lill, who became emotional while reading his statement, said: “Mum believed in life after death and wanted to be dressed in her wedding dress when she died, in readiness for meeting with (her husband) David again.

“(My wife) Helen and I carried out her wishes and ensured she was dressed as she wanted…All this care was lost on Robert Bush.

“All the hard work and tireless care we willingly gave mum was for nothing. She protected us her whole life from mistreatment, and it feels that the one time I could repay her and protect her, I couldn’t. Bush took this away from me.”

Raymond Dagnall, 64

Raymond Dagnall’s body was recovered from Legacy seven months after his death.

His family had scattered what they thought were Mr Dagnall’s ashes at Bridlington Harbour, as a tribute to his work as a fisherman.

There had, in fact, been no cremation, despite Bush charging them for one.

Mr Dagnall’s sister, Christina George, sobbed as she told the court: “No matter what people tell me, I still blame myself and I think I probably always will.

“Why hadn’t I taken him somewhere closer to where he lived or anywhere other than Legacy?

“Raymond was my brother. He didn’t deserve this. I will never forgive Bush for his neglect and complete lack of respect.

“I try and think of all the good memories I have of us growing up as children together, but I keep coming back in my mind to him laying forgotten on a rack.”

Colin Wainman, 69

Colin Wainman’s body was recovered from Legacy six months after his death.

His family said that the ashes Bush initially gave them were in a cardboard box, inside a Hobbycraft bag, and he apologised for not having any of his gift bags left.

His daughter, Vikki Mitchell, later returned the ashes to Bush so that he could separate them out.

He had done four boxes of ashes when she had only asked for two, and the bag was so heavy to carry that she had to stop several times walking home.

Maureen Graham, 82

Maureen Graham’s body was recovered from Legacy six months after her death.

Her son, David Graham, could only afford an unattended service costing £970, after which he went to a crematorium and was presented with an “abnormally large urn” that he was told contained his mother’s ashes, which he then witnessed being scattered over the Garden of Remembrance.

Her sister, Sandra Spamer’s statement said: “I feel angry, heartbroken and a deep sense of injustice that a man in a trusted position would do this to families for his own gain.

“My sister wasn’t just a body, she was a loved family member. Knowing how she was treated has affected me deeply.”

Susan Gorbutt, 78

Susan Gorbutt’s body was recovered from Legacy six months after her death.

When her husband, David Gorbutt, collected what he thought were her ashes in September 2023, he was handed a plain paper bag containing a small cardboard box with Susan’s name.

He said: “I hope they’re the right ones.”

Bush replied: “Yes, they are definitely the right ones.”

In his victim impact statement, Mr Gorbutt said: “I feel sad and disappointed, but mostly guilty because I was unable to fulfil my wife’s last request, that I deal with her death quickly and arrange her cremation as quickly as possible at her request, because as Susan would say, ‘You know I do not like the cold’.

“This would have been her worst nightmare what happened to her, she did not like the idea of lying there or being retained at the premises as she was. I am emotional giving this statement, it upsets me to think about this.”

Shirley Wright, 86

Shirley Wright’s body was recovered from Legacy five months after her death.

When her daughter Jayne Rimmington collected the ashes in October 2023, she was surprised how heavy they were, but Bush said this was due to her “bone density”.

Ms Rimmington said: “I was told that 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.

“Not only had someone else’s property been placed with mum, which felt a violation in itself, but another family had given Bush this photograph to be with their loved one and they were left without it.”

Mark Hotham, 89

Mark Hotham’s body was recovered from Legacy five months after his death.

Debbie Keeting, his close friend and carer, became upset at his funeral and demanded to see inside the coffin.

She did not believe he was there because of how apparently light it was, but her family managed to calm her down and the funeral went ahead.

Nigel Hotham, Mark’s nephew, said: “I can’t forgive (Bush) and don’t think I ever will. One mistake is perhaps forgivable but to mistreat so many people is a huge betrayal.

“This is not just an error of judgment.

“It feels like a determined effort to destroy so many lives. You are supposed to trust a funeral director.”