Bursledon Man Jailed After £33,500 Mini Digger Fraud

A man from Bursledon has been jailed after fraudulently hiring a mini excavator worth more than £33,000 before moving it on within hours of delivery.

Richard Charles Brown, 55, of Silver Birches, pleaded guilty to fraud and theft offences at Southampton Crown Court on 13 March.

Brown returned to court on Friday, 22 May, where he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for fraud and 12 months for theft, to run concurrently.

The case relates to an incident on 3 May 2024, when Brown used false identification documents to hire a Yanmar SV26 excavator from a plant hire company based in Salisbury.

The mini digger, valued at approximately £33,500, was delivered to Brown’s home address in Bursledon.

However, when the hire company later attempted to recover the machine at the end of the agreed hire period, Brown had blocked their number and became obstructive.

Further enquiries revealed the excavator had already been moved from the address just hours after it had first been delivered.
Speaking following the sentencing, investigating officer PC Tim Bright said:

“This was a real team effort, and I am pleased to see it result in a custodial sentence. I’d also like to recognise the victim’s commitment in supporting the case through to court.”

Police are now reminding plant hire companies to remain vigilant against organised criminals who target businesses using false identification and forged documents to secure high-value machinery.

Officers recommend companies strengthen identity and hire checks by verifying photo ID, confirming addresses and references, and remaining cautious of unusual or last-minute requests.

Businesses are also being encouraged to use additional security measures including GPS trackers, geofence alerts, and secure storage arrangements to help prevent thefts and improve recovery chances.

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Posted: 2026-05-26T15:30:19+0000