'Families had tears streaming down faces - and wicked funeral director Robert Bush refused to look at them'

When ‘wicked’ undertaker Robert Bush was jailed for 20 years, I watched him stand solemnly. He bowed his head, hands clasped in front him, as if he was at the head of a funeral procession. There was total silence as he was taken down, escorted from the glass-lined dock to the cells below. There was silence because the families who had been sat watching from the packed public gallery had seized back the dignity Bush had so mercilessly stolen from their loved ones. It was as if everyone was sat remembering their grief and those they’d lost. It was so quiet throughout Bush’s sentencing at Hull crown court on Friday that when the two knocks were heard on the wooden door, to announce the arrival of the Judge, a few even jumped. Justice Hilliard KC, sat down and took his heavy black-rimmed glasses off, to look at the families. He told them how they’d ‘honoured the memories of those who died’ with their behaviour in court. While in contrast, Bush frowned and kept his dead down as the Judge spoke of the ‘anguish and pain beyond comprehension’ he’d caused them. And these extraordinary families kept silent despite tears pouring down their faces and even when the Judge spoke of Bush's remorse. He told how an expert had reported Bush felt ‘remorse’, and it seemed genuine. Even then, the families didn’t utter a word, just shook their heads in disagreement. Others put their hands over their mouths as if to keep the emotion in. One lady had a gentle hand placed on her back by someone behind her, as her shoulders heaved up and down as she sobbed, again silently. I was one of only a few journalists allowed in court to watch Bush learn his fate after an emotional five-day sentencing hearing. Witness after witness had broken their hearts as they told of the damage bush had caused, the trauma, their PTSD, suicide attempts and their heartbreak. Their evidence appeared to touch everybody in court, including the Judge and the Det Superintendent who led the investigation. But not Bush. The only time the money-obsessed funeral director showed any interest throughout the five-day hearing, was when the court heard about the £3million he raked in. Then he was paying attention, referring to his notes next to him and looking straight at the Judge, no longer staring at his feet. At least 50 family members had queued up to hear his fate, but only half managed to get into the public gallery at Hull crown court. One of those who couldn’t get it in, watched on a video link in a nearby court. She told how they too were silent as they watched proceedings. Tracey Crowther, 62, had chatted to me earlier as we queued to get into the main court, and revealed Bush had carried out ten of her loved ones' funerals, including her son’s. She said later: “I watched him closely and there was no remorse. He is so evil and looked more sorry for himself. He got up and walked away as if nothing had happened. He’s vile. It’s not long enough, he should have got life.” As everyone filed out, some spoke out saying ‘It’s a joke’ and ‘we’ve been failed again’. But others were silent, just hugging each other. You could see the ‘heartbreaking’ bond they had formed from being the victims of Bush’s ‘unimaginable’ crimes.