Cornish undertaker sentenced after leaving body at funeral directors for weeks before cremation
Jack Weekes, 32, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years after pleading guilty to preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body
Last updated 13th Jan 2026
An undertaker from Cornwall has been sentenced after leaving the body of a pensioner at his funeral directors for over a month after she should have been cremated
Jack Weekes, 32, had been paid by the family of 86-year-old Elizabeth Penhaligan, who died in September 2023, to organise her funeral service and cremation.
Truro Crown Court heard the funeral was arranged for October 16, with the cremation due to take place on the same day at the Glynn Valley Crematorium in Bodmin, Cornwall.
But due to his "disorganisation and some financial difficulties", the cremation did not happen until December 1.
The defendant took over the J Weekes Funeral Directors' business from his grandfather John Weekes, who had retired, in April 2022 and it was solvent, the court was told.
However, by the time of investigation into Mrs Penhaligan's death, the business owed around £18,000 to the local crematorium, two years' worth of fees to a medical practice which issued death certificates, and unpaid bills to a local church.
Nikki Coombe, prosecuting, told the court the manager of a local crematorium, Karen Stewart, thought the defendant was "disorganised" in his business dealings.
"They always had to chase him for paid work," Ms Coombe said.
"They regularly conducted memorial services and cremations at a later date due to incomplete paperwork.
"She says that in the last few months, matters were deteriorating, and it was affecting the defendant noticeably, and she had two or three conversations with this defendant to it was ok if he couldn't cope and for the business to cease trading.
"But the defendant said that he would feel guilty about that because it had been a family business for generations.
"Ms Stewart, on the other hand, also says that there were many occasions when she was discussing unpaid invoices with the defendant for money that he owed to the crematorium, and he would plead for more time to pay off debts.
"But at the same time, she could see on his social media posts that he was spending money on family weekends or weekends shooting."
The court heard the family of Mrs Penhaligan paid Weekes the £3,382 cost in full ahead of the funeral.
Ms Coombe said that on the day of the service, Weekes contacted Mrs Penhaligan's son to tell him the cremation could not happen - blaming the medical practice for not providing the necessary paperwork in time.
"He was very upset because he wanted the cremation to take place surrounded by his mother's family and friends," she said.
"He was in fact going away the next day to have a rest after what had been quite a traumatic time for him with his partner."
The court heard Mrs Penhaligan's family were unable to contact Weekes because they wanted to know what happened to her ashes and when the cremation had taken place.
"Ms Stewart had many conversations with this defendant's grandfather, and he was eventually able to tell her that Mrs Penhaligan's remains were still at the business address and she says that John Weekes was extremely distressed about that," the prosecutor said.
Asked by Judge James Adkin why the offending had occurred, Ms Coombe replied: "There does seem to be a combination of factors, disorganisation and some financial difficulties."
While Mrs Penhaligan's body remained at the funeral directors, other funerals took place without issue.
Ms Stewart arranged for Mrs Penhaligan's body to be collected from the undertakers, and she was finally cremated on December 1.
Mrs Penhaligan's son, Andrew, said in a victim impact statement read to the court: "When the incident first occurred, I began to suffer with nightmares, and I have continued to do so for the last 18 months.
"I feel that I've not had any proper closure since my mum's passing and I've not been able to say goodbye to my mum properly."
Weekes, of St John's Road, Millbrook, Cornwall, had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of preventing lawful and decent burial of a dead body.
A second charge of fraud by false representation, which he had denied, was ordered to lie on file.
Lee Bremridge, defending, said Weekes, who now works as a carpenter, had suffered mental health issues from dealing with bereaved families.
"This coincided with a period whereby there were a number of funerals involving young children and suicides," he said.
"He had a complete emotional and mental breakdown and that is really why it is that these events have happened."
Judge Adkin imposed a 15-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered Weekes to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and complete mental health treatment.
"The nature of your business meant that you were always dealing with vulnerable and grieving family members who expected their loved one's funeral arrangements to be characterised by care and dignity, neither of which were afforded to Mrs Penhaligan," he said.