Fraudulent funeral directors found guilty of denying families lawful burials

Families were denied the dignity of proper care for their deceased loved ones after two funeral directors stored bodies in unrefrigerated conditions.

Richard Elkin, 49, and Hayley Bell, 42, were convicted today following the discovery in December 2023 of serious failings at their Gosport funeral business.

Bailiffs entering the premises found two bodies stored without refrigeration in a room with water leaking through the ceiling. One body of an elderly gentleman had been left for 36 days and was found in a badly decomposed condition. He had paid for a funeral plan and his family had arrived at a crematorium believing their loved one had been cremated to find out that in fact his body remained at the funeral directors' premises.

Between June 2022 and December 2023, 46 bodies in Elkin and Bell's care were kept in an unrefrigerated room. Many remained there for over 30 days.
The pair continued providing funeral services despite knowing their insolvent business could not meet its obligations. Elkin displayed a forged certificate from the National Association of Funeral Directors.

Rachel Robertson, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wessex, said: "Richard Elkin and Hayley Bell were rightly charged with serious and broad-ranging criminal wrongdoing in relation to their funeral business.

"They showed a grave disregard for the dignity owed to the deceased in their care and the trust placed in them by grieving families and failed to provide a proper and lawful burial for one gentleman which they were contractually obliged to do. Their conduct caused serious harm to those coming into contact with their business and the families who had placed the care of deceased loved ones in their trust.

"Today's convictions recognise the gravity of their conduct and our thoughts remain with the families affected by the failings of Elkin and Bell."

Both were convicted of intentionally causing a public nuisance, preventing lawful burial, and carrying on business with intent to defraud creditors. Elkin was additionally convicted of making and using a false instrument, and possessing pepper spray.

They will be sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on 19 February 2026.

Following the verdict, Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said: “We can all empathise with the families connected to this case.

“We have all lost someone we care about, or will in the future. When that happens, in the worst moment of our lives, we turn to trusted pillars of the community to help, to look after our loved ones, to provide care.

“Mr Elkin and Ms Bell betrayed that trust, and betrayed it in the worst way possible.

“As the jury have found they did not act in a loving, caring or compassionate way. Instead they left bodies unrefrigerated for long periods of time, causing high levels of harm to the public.

“We need to make sure this never happens again.

“As a police service, if something doesn’t feel right it is important that we trust our instincts and do everything we can to support members of the community in their time of need.

“In this case, our officers turned over every stone to bring Elkin & Bell to justice using legislation that is hundreds of years old. This also would not have been possible without the determination and support of our partners at the Crown Prosecution Service.

“Sadly we are aware of other similar cases across the country

“We need new legislation rather than relying on common law.  We also need better regulation.

“Combined this can help ensure that all funeral directors act, as the majority do, with professionalism and compassion.

“Finally thank you to the families who have provided excellent witness evidence, come together to look after one another, and can now allow their loved ones to rest in peace.”