Pontius - not sure if you meant that the serial number started
VB but, if so, VB281 was in the serial range VA962 - VB849 which was allotted to DH Hornets most of which were cancelled.
Serial nos. V8131 - 8901 were Beaufighters.
I suspect that an 8 has been mistaken for a B.
8281 seems to have been a Mk. 1f.