Jailed Gosport funeral bosses 'betrayed' trust of bereaved

This is a news report about two funeral directors, Richard Elkin and Hayley Bell, who were convicted and jailed for keeping 46 bodies in unrefrigerated conditions and other offences related to the mismanagement of their funeral business in Gosport, Hampshire. Their business was insolvent and operated unethically, leading to distress for the grieving families they served.

Here are some key details from the report:

– Richard Elkin (49) and Hayley Bell (42) ran Elkin and Bell Funerals.
– They were found guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court of:
– Preventing a lawful and decent burial,
– Intentionally causing a public nuisance by keeping bodies unrefrigerated,
– Fraudulent trading (between June 2022 and December 2023).
– Bailiffs discovered the bodies after visiting to repossess the premises due to unpaid debts.
– Bodies were stored in a room with no cooling and leaking water.
– They lied to families—e.g., claiming a cremation had taken place when it hadn’t, despite full payment.
– Police and Crown Prosecution Service officials condemned their actions as a betrayal of trust.
– Several bereaved families were impacted, including Corrinne and Sam Boulton, who had trusted them with their premature baby Albie’s funeral arrangements.

The case highlights concerns about lack of regulation in the funeral directing industry and the devastating effects on families when funeral directors act irresponsibly.

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Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More