ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A Carlisle scaffolder who made a habit of stealing Henry vacuum cleaners from B&M stores described himself as the "world's worst thief".

Jamie Moorhead, 33, was in the grip of a cocaine addiction when he committed his crimes over the course of 21 months from 2024 to 2025. Each time he targeted a Henry hoover - Numatic's flagship vacuum cleaner model - from one of two local branches of B&M Bargains.

The latest offence was committed in December 2025 when Moorhead attempted to escape by jumping over the till.

Moorhead admitted to having had a drug problem at the time and claimed he stole the vacuum cleaners in order to sell them to buy cocaine.

"He says he is the world's worst thief," said defence lawyer Mark Shepherd. "He accepts that at the time - when he was under the influence - it seemed like a good idea. But it was bizarre, frankly, to keep targeting Henry hoovers."

The court heard that Moorhead had no relevant previous convictions and that he is now clean of drugs. Magistrates fined him £140 and ordered him to pay £616 compensation to B&M Bargains.

Henry vacuum cleaners are often targeted by thieves. In 2025 a Peterborough thief was jailed for stealing a Henry vacuum along with other items. Another thief from Oxfordshire was incarcerated in 2024 after stealing five of the Henry models.

And in 2020, a total of 20 Henry and Hetty machines worth £17,500 were stolen from a lorry in Saffron Walden. The perpetrators have not been caught.