Drug Dealer Inspired by Home Alone Film Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison
A drug dealer who took inspiration from the classic Christmas film Home Alone to rig his house with deadly booby traps has been jailed for seven years. Ian Claughton, 60, transformed his home in the former pit village of Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, into a fortified stronghold to protect his illicit cannabis operation.
Elaborate Traps and Dangerous Weapons Discovered
Police executing warrants in May 2024 discovered a series of homemade devices that echoed the comedic traps set by Macaulay Culkin's character in the film. Officers found tripwires made from fishing line strung across rooms at knee height, connected to electrical connectors and battery packs. The property contained multiple pipe bombs created from modified crow-scarers inserted into plastic piping and even a bag of paint.
The arsenal of weapons uncovered was extensive and alarming:
- Homemade flamethrower discovered in a workshop
- Two high-powered air guns and a crossbow
- Banger fireworks sealed inside piping with wires and coiled springs
- Stun gun hidden behind a refrigerator-freezer
- Large quantities of cannabis and amphetamines
- £27,000 in cash sewn into a sofa
Major Police Operation and Community Evacuation
The discovery triggered a significant multi-agency response that caused major disruption in the local community. Approximately 100 houses had to be evacuated as authorities established a 100-meter cordon around the property. Army bomb squad experts were called to the scene to safely dispose of the explosive devices over a three-day operation.
Prosecutor Helen Chapman told Sheffield Crown Court during the trial last October: "If you are sitting there thinking that this sounds a little like the film Home Alone, then you would be correct. In fact that is precisely what Ian Claughton said he was aiming for when he told the police about these devices."
International Firearms Importation and Convictions
The investigation began when UK Border Force intercepted a package of imitation firearms ordered from China and addressed to Claughton's ex-wife, Lesley Claughton. The package, opened at Heathrow Airport, contained five small silver-and-black folding five-shot revolvers. Detectives from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit subsequently executed warrants on three properties connected to the couple.
Ian Claughton pleaded guilty to bringing realistic imitation firearms into the country, being concerned in the production of cannabis, and two counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs. He was convicted after trial of three counts of possessing prohibited firearms, possession of criminal property, and possession of explosive substances.
Lesley Claughton, 59, was found guilty of similar offences and received a 21-month prison sentence suspended for two years. Cannabis plants were discovered growing in two of the houses, including some cultivated in tents within hidden rooms.
Police Response and Community Impact
Detective Superintendent Al Burns of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit commented on the case: "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 its illicit contents from would-be intruders."
Burns emphasized the serious nature of the devices: "The modified booby-trap devices officers found at his address, alongside an array of other weapons, had the appearance of home-made bombs and obviously caused us serious concerns. This caused significant disruption and concern in the local community over a number of days, and we hope all those affected can take some comfort and reassurance from seeing Claughton and his ex-partner being criminally held to account."
Judge Graham Reeds, sentencing Claughton at Sheffield Crown Court, described him as "a drug dealer who used these weapons to protect his cannabis growing operation." The seven-year sentence reflects the serious danger Claughton's homemade devices posed to both law enforcement and the surrounding community.
