It was an act that landed him in court

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A vicar has found himself in court and being placed on the sex offenders' register after being caught performing a sex act with a Henry vacuum cleaner. John Jeffs was naked apart from a pair of ladies' stocking, the court heard.

He was caught "thrusting" into the Henry's nozzle by a horrified churchgoer who was attending a talk about Asperger’s syndrome at The Baptist Centre in Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire, in September 2020. The 74-year-old, of Middleton Cheney, who is now retired, continued despite being caught, the court heard, later telling police this was because he felt "naughty".

Jeffs was found guilty of indecent exposure after a trial at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, reports the Mirror. He was working as a pastoral manager at Christian faith-based group, Parents Talking Asperger’s, the court was told.

Following the court case, the group claimed they ceased involvement with Jeffs seven months prior to the offence taking place. The horrified witness recounted how when they walked past his office, they saw the vicar nearly naked, aside from the stockings he had on.

The court heard he was "standing between two dark chairs, thrusting into a Henry Hoover". Jeffs was given an 18-month community order and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register.

He was also ordered to pay £845 in court costs and £200 in compensation to the victim who witnessed the sex act. Jeffs' solicitor said that he was still coming to terms with the loss of his wife at a young age and was in "a lot of pain" because he was ignoring his health and his diabetes was not medicated.

Prosecuting, Ellie Hutchinson said that Jeffs accepted in a police interview that he was performing a sex act in a church, but claimed he did not know he would be seen.

The magistrate said: "Why you thought it best to bring this matter to trial, I have no idea."