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Legacy - the stories that must be told: 'He gave the impression he was a man of God - I trusted him'

The family of Danny Middleton put their trust in disgraced funeral director Robert Bush

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Danny Middleton

On Friday, July 31 2026, Hull funeral director Robert Bush was jailed for 20 years.

The 48-year-old left bodies to decompose at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors' premises in the city, gave bereaved families the ashes of other people and stole money donated from collections at funerals.The "horror" and revulsion felt by the families who had lost loved ones was revealed at Hull Crown Court during a series of powerful and harrowing victim statements during the first four days of the five-day sentencing hearing.

Over the coming weeks, we will be publishing those statements - from families who had cruelly been taken advantage of when they were at their most vulnerable. Their stories need to be told, and we will ensure that they are, for as long as it takes.

I am the maternal granddaughter of Danny Middleton and niece of Gavin Middleton. I have taken over the mantel of next of kin from Gavin as he sadly passed away unexpectedly on 23rd June 2025.

I am reading his victim personal statement on his behalf because his voice needs to be heard, his words need to be said. He passed away before he heard that justice had been served for his much loved dad but he still deserves his chance to see Robert Bush go to prison for what he did.

Katie Minns

I first met Robert Bush when I contacted Legacy Funeral Directors following my dad, Danny Middletons death in November 2023. I chose Legacy because they were recommended to me by family friends who had used them previously.

When I first met Rob I thought that everything was in order because Ive never dealt with funeral directors before and didnt know what to expect. Rob kept saying bless you and God bless and gave the impression he was a man of God. I trusted him.

My dads funeral went alright, it was a great send off for him. Around February 2024 I managed to get the money together to pay the remaining 250 for the funeral and collect my dads ashes from Rob. I thought everything was over and done with and had started to move on with my life.

It was a major shock on 8th March 2024 when police knocked on my door to say that they had found my dads body at Legacy. I was lost, bewildered. Why was my dad there? Hed been cremated, he shouldnt have been there. Im a changed man now; my trust in people has completely gone. Ive changed the way I do business with people, even those Ive known for years. I dont pay anything in cash any more and always pay on card, asking for a receipt every time. I need traceability and wont blindly trust anyone now, not even those professionals that are claiming to be on my side. Its no way to live.

I blame myself for trusting in Rob Bush. I organised and paid for the funeral myself and its all on me. If Id just opted for something a little more expensive at a more reputable funeral director we wouldnt be in this position and I have to live with that guilt for the rest of my life.

After the second funeral and cremation I felt alone and upset. I took the slight personally and blamed myself for putting my dad and the family through it all over again. I couldnt go ahead with a second service, opting instead for the cremation on its own. The ordeal has affected all of my family, and I dont know where to go from here.

We need answers we know well never get. Well just continue supporting each other as we have since this came to light. I want legislation to be changed and for funeral directors to be registered, monitored so that this can never happen to anyone ever again. We need to learn from these mistakes and protect our relatives.

If I could look Rob Bush in the eye I would ask him what drove him to do it? I cant even begin to understand one person being treated this way, why so many? Why do that to another human being? Its immoral. I hope he can live with himself.

Gavin Middleton

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