Benjamin Ambrose, 44, has admitted ripping off customers while posing as a trusted horsebox dealer.
Swindon Man Confesses to Fraud and Theft
Benjamin Ambrose, from Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on April 2. He pleaded guilty to multiple crimes, including:
- Three counts of theft
- Five counts of fraud
- One offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988
He now waits nervously for the sentencing set for September 15.
How Ambrose’s Horsebox Scam Unravelled
Once a recognised distributor for Bloomfields Horseboxes in the Southwest, Ambrose ran ‘Wiltshire Horsebox Hire’ before launching a new company in 2018 – ‘Bloomfields Horseboxes (South) Ltd’ based in Wiltshire. Come September 2024, he slid the firm into voluntary liquidation. Soon after, Wiltshire Police began receiving a flood of fraud complaints. Probes revealed Ambrose’s dirty tricks:
- Taking tens of thousands from customers for custom horseboxes that never arrived
- Faking delay excuses while no work was underway
- Dodging payments to sellers after agreeing on sales of horseboxes and chassis
- Selling horseboxes is still tied up in finance, without warning buyers
Police Blast ‘Prolific Liar’ Ambrose
“Ambrose was a prolific liar who has left victims tens of thousands out of pocket,” said Detective Constable Melissa Pope from the Fraud team. “He used friendships to scam money and then failed to deliver anything. The damage isn’t just financial – victims are left emotionally wrecked, replaying how they were hoodwinked. All blame lies with Ambrose’s deception.” “I’m relieved he’s pleaded guilty. Now we await sentencing in September.”
