Drug Dealer Sentenced to Seven Years for 'Home Alone' Booby-Trap Defence
A drug dealer from Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, has been jailed for seven years after rigging a series of houses with booby-traps inspired by the classic Christmas movie Home Alone to protect his drugs enterprise. Ian Claughton, 60, heavily fortified his home and two neighbouring properties with tripwires, crow-scarers, and homemade pipe bombs in an attempt to defend his illicit business from potential intruders.
Evacuation and Discovery
In May 2024, around 100 homes were evacuated for three days as police and Army bomb squad experts conducted searches on Brierley Road, targeting the properties of Ian and his ex-wife Lesley Claughton. During the operation, authorities uncovered a series of dangerous traps, a homemade flamethrower, large quantities of cannabis, air guns, amphetamines, and significant amounts of cash.
Footage revealed Ian using the homemade flamethrower, which he claimed in court was created to 'wow' people during Bonfire Night celebrations. The police also found fishing wire stretched across a room at knee height, connected to an electrical connector and battery pack, alongside two high-powered air guns and a crossbow.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At Sheffield Crown Court, Ian Claughton was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, while Lesley Claughton, 59, received a 21-month suspended sentence, conditional on not reoffending for two years. Opening the trial in October, prosecutor Helen Chapman noted the resemblance to the film Home Alone, stating that Ian himself admitted to aiming for such an effect when describing the devices to police.
Ian was convicted on multiple charges, including three counts of possessing prohibited firearms, possession of criminal property, and possession of explosive substances. He pleaded guilty to additional offences, such as bringing a realistic imitation firearm into the country and drug-related crimes, but was cleared of a firearms charge related to a stun gun after a trial at Doncaster Crown Court.
Evidence and Motives
Despite denying any intent to harm visitors, Ian left threatening notes around the properties, including one that read: 'Now would be a good time to get measured up for your coffin'. He claimed the explosives were merely crow-scarers used by farmers, which he had modified by placing them into plastic piping and, in one instance, a bag of paint.
A substantial amount of cash was discovered, with £27,000 sewn into a sofa, and cannabis plants were found growing in two of the homes. The couple's activities came to light after Border Force at Heathrow Airport intercepted five small five-shot revolvers ordered from China, prompting an investigation by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Organised Crime Involvement
Ian ordered the firearms using Lesley's eBay account, and she was described in court as 'assisting and encouraging' his criminality. Lesley was found guilty of charges including bringing a realistic imitation firearm into the country, possessing class B drugs with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property.
Detective Superintendent Al Burns of the Yorkshire Regional Organised Crime Unit commented: 'Ian Claughton is someone who was clearly involved in drugs offending to a very significant degree. He appears to have developed a siege mentality that saw him go to unusual and elaborate lengths to defend his home and his illicit contents from would-be intruders, drawing inspiration from Macaulay Culkin's character in the popular Christmas film Home Alone.'
