A 60-year-old drug dealer who rigged his house with tripwires, pipe bombs, and other traps inspired by the film Home Alone faces seven years behind bars.

Ian Claughton fortified his properties in Grimethorpe, near Barnsley in South Yorkshire, to safeguard his illegal drug operations. In May 2024, police searches prompted the evacuation of over 100 nearby homes as officers uncovered an array of dangerous devices, including a homemade flamethrower, substantial amounts of cannabis and amphetamines, and £27,000 in cash hidden inside a sofa.

Elaborate Traps and Weapons Uncovered

Investigators discovered fishing wire stretched at knee height across rooms, connected to electrical triggers and battery packs. Claughton explained to officers that he repurposed crow-scarers—explosives typically used by farmers—by packing them into plastic pipes or even a bag of paint.

Additional hazards included banger fireworks sealed in foam-filled pipes with wires and springs, a stun gun concealed behind a fridge-freezer, and a workshop-built flamethrower. Properties also yielded two high-powered air guns, a crossbow, and cannabis plants cultivated in hidden rooms and tents.

A warning note explicitly stated that ‘everything was booby trapped,’ heightening the danger during the operation.

Court Proceedings and Sentences

Sheffield Crown Court Judge Graham Reeds sentenced Claughton to seven years in prison. His 59-year-old ex-wife, Lesley Claughton, received a 21-month suspended sentence for two years.

During the trial at Doncaster Crown Court, prosecutor Helen Chapman addressed jurors: ‘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.’

How Authorities Caught Them

The case unraveled after customs at Heathrow Airport intercepted a package of imitation firearms ordered from China using Lesley’s eBay account. Inside were five small silver-and-black folding revolvers.

Ian Claughton admitted to importing a realistic imitation firearm, involvement in cannabis production, and two counts of possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply. A jury convicted him of possessing prohibited firearms, criminal property, and explosive substances.

Lesley Claughton was found guilty of importing a realistic imitation firearm, possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply, holding criminal property, and aiding cannabis production.