A notorious conman from Westcliff, Essex, has once again been convicted of fraud—this time for scamming a grieving family out of thousands of pounds by promising a funeral that never took place.
Mark Kerbey, 62, a serial fraudster with a criminal history spanning more than three decades, has left a trail of devastated victims and financial ruin in his wake.
A history of deceit
Kerbey, who has over 40 counts of fraud to his name and has previously served multiple prison sentences, was found guilty of two counts of fraud by false representation at Basildon Crown Court. He now faces sentencing on 25 April.
Operating under the name ‘Trinity Funeral Home’ in Southend, Essex, Kerbey tricked a grieving widow into believing that he had arranged a funeral for her late husband at Pitsea Crematorium. In reality, no such service had been booked, and the family was cruelly turned away upon arrival.
To make matters worse, Kerbey had already been banned from arranging funerals at Bowers Gifford Crematorium and Southend Cemetery since 2018 due to previous fraudulent activities. Despite this, he continued to exploit bereaved families for financial gain.
The devastating impact on a grieving family
The most recent scam unfolded in January 2020 when a woman, recently widowed, paid Kerbey £2,600 to organise her husband’s funeral. Unaware of his history, the family was drawn in by an offer that seemed more affordable than other funeral services in the area.
The night before the supposed funeral, Kerbey even visited the family, handing them an order of service to maintain the illusion that everything was in place. But when mourners arrived at Pitsea Crematorium on 21 February, they were met with an awful reality—no funeral had been arranged.
In an attempt to cover his tracks, Kerbey blamed others for the mix-up and insisted that the family instead use his funeral home for the service. The deception continued when he sent a limousine—shockingly, one that had been prepared for a 13-year-old’s birthday party that same day—to collect the grieving relatives.
Upon arrival at Trinity Funeral Home, the mourners were forced into a cramped 15ft by 15ft room, far too small to accommodate the large gathering. The rushed 20-minute service bore no relation to the deceased, leaving the family devastated.
Worse still, Kerbey demanded an additional £700 for the release of the body, forcing the family to pay extra to transfer their loved one to a legitimate funeral provider. Due to the financial strain, the deceased man was eventually laid to rest on 17 March—but heartbreakingly, with no family present.
Inside the fraudulent funeral business
Kerbey’s deception extended far beyond this single case. One former employee at Trinity Funeral Home revealed the shocking lengths to which he would go to maintain his fraudulent business.
“It got to the point of being told to go down to the crematorium or the local graveyard and collecting other people’s flowers—wreaths and bouquets—off another funeral, which wasn’t even to do with our company. We would take them back to the office, spray them with water to make them look fresh, and place them on coffins,” the ex-employee revealed.
A career built on lies
This is far from the first time Kerbey has defrauded innocent people. In 2014, he was sentenced to 54 months in prison for six counts of fraud. He was released in 2017, only to continue his schemes.
In 2018, he was convicted again—this time for scamming an elderly couple out of £3,000 by falsely promising to arrange their funeral. Instead of using a legitimate business account, he instructed them to deposit the money into his personal bank account before disappearing. For this crime, he received a two-year suspended sentence. At the time, outside the courtroom, he claimed: “I admit I had a bad track record, but people do change. You get older and you get wiser.” However, his actions in the years that followed proved otherwise.
Bringing Kerbey to justice
Kerbey’s latest conviction is the result of a relentless investigation led by PC Daniel Hart and retired officer PC Leigh Stevenson. Stevenson, who had been awarded a Chief Constable’s Commendation for her determination, even delayed her retirement to see the case through.
Speaking after the verdict, PC Hart said: “My thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by this awful case. Kerbey preyed on vulnerable, grieving victims and promised them tailored and respectful funeral services for their loved one, which he knew he would never be able to deliver. His actions are despicable, dishonest, and disrespectful. I am glad today that those who were sadly engulfed in his web of lies finally have justice.”
A second man was also charged in connection with Kerbey’s fraudulent activities but was found not guilty of fraud by false representation.
Still posing as a funeral director
Shockingly, despite his multiple convictions, Kerbey still lists himself as a ‘Senior Consultant Funeral Director’ at Trinity Funeral Homes. His ability to repeatedly exploit vulnerable people raises serious concerns about regulation within the funeral industry.
With his sentencing set for April, the families he has deceived over the years can only hope that this time, justice will be served decisively—and that he will never be able to inflict such pain on another grieving family again.
Minimum 7-10 inside for that, despicable scum.