Funeral Directors Sentenced to Four Years for Neglecting Bodies and Fraud
Two funeral directors have been sentenced to four years in prison after a decomposing body was discovered in their mortuary, with the court hearing of multiple cases of neglect and fraudulent business practices.
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Richard Elkin, 49, and Hayley Bell, 42, who operated Elkin and Bell Funerals in Gosport, Hampshire, were both convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court of preventing the decent burial of a body and fraud offences. They appeared for sentencing on Thursday 19 February 2026, where they received four-year prison terms and were disqualified from acting as company directors for seven years.
Disturbing Discovery and Trial Evidence
During the trial, prosecutor Lesley Bates KC revealed that High Court enforcement agents discovered the bodies of two elderly men while repossessing the premises due to unpaid rent and debts. The mortuary room was not refrigerated, had water leaking through the roof, and contained the decomposing remains of 87-year-old William Mitchell.
Ms Bates informed the jury that there were five other known cases of "badly decomposed" bodies kept in the same mortuary room. Police described the space as being in a "state of disarray" with broken windows, water dripping from the ceiling, and a "pungent and unpleasant smell."
Multiple Offences and Forgery Charges
Elkin and Bell were found guilty of causing public nuisance between 27 June 2022 and 11 December 2023, preventing lawful burial of a dead body between 3 November 2023 and 11 December 2023, and carrying on a business fraudulently between 10 August 2022 and 11 December 2023.
Additionally, Elkin was convicted of forging a certificate of funeral directing and using it as a false certificate on or before 10 December 2023, along with illegal possession of pepper spray.
Judge's Remarks on Impact on Families
Passing sentence, His Honour Judge James Newton-Price KC noted that during the offending period, more than 40 bodies were in the care of Elkin and Bell. He emphasized the "serious, profound and enduring distress" caused to families by the defendants' actions.
The judge stated: "No sentence can be a reflection of the value and the worth of the bodies neglected whilst in the care of Elkin and Bell."
This case highlights significant failures in funeral service standards and has prompted concerns about regulatory oversight in the industry.
