Funeral director given jail term

A LOCAL funeral director has been sentenced to jail after being convicted of crimes committed through his business.
Tom Bull, associated with Seaford Funeral Services, Melbourne Funeral Care and Western Port Funeral Services, was last week fined $3250 and sentenced to six months’ jail, with three months suspended.
He was convicted of one count of making a false or misleading statement and one count of obtaining property by deception.
Bull was released on bail, pending an appeal.
The case was heard at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 30 January by magistrate Kim Parkinson.
Bull has had a rocky history in the funeral industry after a number of claims of theft and malpractice brought against him.
His father Ted Bull, who runs Edward Bull Funeral Director with offices in Cranbourne, Somerville and Frankston, distanced himself from his son some time ago.
Mr Bull said he had not spoken to his son Tom in eight years and was not associated with him any more.
Bull then changed his name to Tom to further distance himself from his father, who he was originally named after.
Bull’s lawyers lodged an appeal against the decision.
The appeal will be heard in the County Court on 30 May.