Robert Bush: Former funeral director ‘left baby’s body in the ground for two years’

Bush’s fraudulent activities were presented to the court, detailing how 46 families were given the wrong ashes and 11 were given none.

Prosecutor Chris Paxton Casey said the total value of the fraud was £86,868 and that Bush had pocketed more than £550,000 over an 11-year period, jailing 226 people who paid for funeral arrangements.

Among the victims was Shelley Cherman, who lost her husband, Alan.

She told Bush: “You fooled a lot of people with your gentleness, when in reality you’re a brutal criminal, using people’s grief to fund your lifestyle.”

Describing the case on Monday, Paxton told the court that the bodies were found “on shelves” in a cold storage area and one was found lying on the floor.

Most were “uncovered and in various states of decay” and the burials were “dirty and empty”.

The 48-year-old’s crimes were discovered by accident while he was on holiday; After two funeral directors tipped off the police.

Bush was arrested in Otley, West Yorkshire, days later when he landed at Heathrow Airport and told police he owed about £90,000, Paxton said.

The trial continues.

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