Banks urged to help families pay back cash used by shamed funeral director Robert Bush

Banks urged to help families pay back cash used by shamed funeral director Robert Bush WARNING - DISTRESSING CONTENT: Humberside Police officer Jason Sutcliffe said coming across the dead bodies and foetus at the funeral directors was "probably the worst experience of my career" A judge has said it might "be good" if banks help grieving families hurt by shamed funeral director Robert Bush by paying them back the money they have lost. Mr Justice Hillard shared the comments after hearing heartbreaking evidence from officers and families impacted by Bush earlier this morning. Police officers shared their "disbelief" after finding dead bodies and a foetus in a bag at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, with one describing it as the "worst experience of his career." James Milligan, the Humberside Police force lead for chemical, radiation and hazardous material, said he was deployed to Legacy in March 2024 with a team of five officers. In his statement read out to the court, he recalled his team's reaction when they discovered the remains of Jasmine Beverley's baby in a bag. "I remember one of the team saying: 'is this what I think it is?' "We were all looking at each other in what I can only describe as disbelief. For one of the few times in my life, it knocked the wind out of my sails that this was an unborn human foetus/baby. I can’t remember what was said, but I do remember that the mood within the team became quite dark, even angry." PC Jason Sutcliffe said in his statement to the court: "I class myself as a resilient person. Finding the foetus will never leave my thoughts, and I was disgusted and deeply saddened. "Luckily, I have had the support of my colleagues at the time, and this has helped me immensely. I am due to retire from the police shortly, and I can honestly say that this was probably the worst experience of my career." No justice Maxine Hill told how her parents were conned by Bush after buying funeral plans from the sick funeral director at Legacy in Hull. Tragically both her mum Margaret, who died in May 2024, and her dad, John who died a year later in June 2025, never got to see the "justice they deserved". Maxine added: “Even though mum was poorly, the added worry of losing the money they had paid to Robert Bush, and how they would pay for their funerals, didn’t help at all. "Mum had paid Bush in cash, so the bank has refused to refund the fraud she has been subjected to. Although Dad did receive a refund from the TSB Bank, he still worried that he owed this money to the bank. "Then, 90 days after receiving the refund, the TSB took the money…back as they said there was no evidence that he hadn’t received a product. Both mum and dad were defrauded of £2,649 each. "The stress of this financial worry is something they should not have had to endure and added to the strain on their mental and physical health." She told how she "tried to shield and protect" her parents from what Bush had done "but it upset them both greatly". "You would honestly think that 'butter wouldn’t melt' in Mr Bush’s mouth. He came across as being just so nice and so placid,” she told the court today. "It hurts me to think that he could go and visit my parents knowing he was going to do this to them after knowing me personally. Although we weren’t friends, I would say we were acquaintances, and I feel very angry and let down. I feel that I can’t trust anyone. She added: "I also worry that I even have my husband’s ashes, after entrusting Robert Bush to look after him on his death. There are so many questions, that I feel will never be answered." Hull Crown Court heard how Bush, 48, defrauded 226 people by charging them for funeral plans he was not authorised to set up, and then pocketing the money. He kept more than half a million pounds over almost 12 years. 'I can't believe he could do this to people' On the fourth day of his sentencing hearing, Bush sat with his head lowered in the dock as victim personal statements were read by some of the people who had lost their money to his fraudulent funeral plans. Anne Hillerby said Bush had charged her “around £5,000” for two funeral plans but offered to "knock off £100 for paying in cash". Her statement read: "We have since found out the plans are not in place and I have not received a refund due to paying in cash. Robert Bush has ripped off so many vulnerable people. I can’t believe he could do this to people. "He has used lower prices to get the customers in then ripped them off." Several victims said they had other savings and the plans had been intended as a safety net to save their children from worrying about their funeral costs. In April, Bush pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial, and theft from the 12 charities. 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. Bush is due to be sentenced for 67 offences spanning 12 years.