By Michael Holden LONDON, April 2 (Reuters) - A British funeral director pleaded guilty on Thursday to deceiving families over the cremation of 30 people and stealing from mourners' donations to a
UK Funeral Director Pleads Guilty to Cremation Fraud and Charity Theft
Funeral Director's Crimes and Court Proceedings
By Michael Holden
LONDON, April 2 (Reuters) - A British funeral director pleaded guilty on Thursday to deceiving families over the cremation of 30 people and stealing from mourners' donations to a dozen charities in a case that police said had affected hundreds of victims and families.
Details of the Cremation Fraud
Robert Bush, 48, gave some grieving relatives ashes that were not those of their loved ones, including of four foetuses.
"The distress and devastation that this has caused for those families is simply unimaginable," Detective Superintendent Alan Curtis told court in a statement.
Police Investigation and Discovery
Police launched their investigation into Bush's business, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, northern England, in March last year after a concern was raised.
Officers found 35 bodies on the site, but said only four should have been there, including some which had purportedly had funerals and been cremated.
Victims' Reactions
"Bush is a pure, true monster," Michaela Baldwin, whose stepfather was among the bodies found at Bush's business premises but had been given ashes, told the BBC.
Court Proceedings and Charges
At Hull Crown Court on Thursday, Bush pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial.
Jail Sentence Expected
During a previous hearing last October, Bush pleaded guilty to more than 30 charges of fraud by false representation, relating to dishonestly telling families and friends of the deceased that he would provide proper care for their remains and arrange for their cremation.
"Most had been given ashes and had been advised that their loved ones' cremation had taken place," Curtis said in his statement.
"Other families, who had chosen cremations through Legacy, were left waiting for ashes that have never been provided, or were deceived by Bush and given ashes that we now know were not their loved ones."
Theft from Charitable Donations
Bush also admitted theft, by stealing money families had donated to 12 charities.
He will be sentenced at the end of July.
"Everyone accepts a custodial sentence is inevitable," said the judge, Nicholas Hilliard.
(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
