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A man from Grimethorpe, Barnsley, who fortified his homes with a variety of dangerous booby traps including a flamethrower and tripwires, has been sentenced to prison for protecting his drug operation. Ian Claughton, aged 60, equipped three properties with improvised security measures such as fishing wire, modified crow-scarers, and homemade pipe bombs to safeguard his cannabis growing business. His ex-wife, Lesley Claughton, 59, was also implicated for her involvement in assisting and encouraging his criminal activities.
The case against the couple was heard at Doncaster Crown Court last November, where both were found guilty of firearm and drug offenses. Subsequently, at Sheffield Crown Court, Ian Claughton received a seven-year prison sentence while Lesley was given a 21-month suspended sentence for two years. The investigation began after Border Force officers intercepted a parcel addressed to Lesley that contained imitation firearms, leading to a police raid in May 2024.
The police operation involved evacuating around 100 nearby homes as the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) carried out a thorough search of the properties on Brierley Road. They discovered numerous illegal items, including two armed mantraps, potential firearms, and four large bags containing cannabis buds worth approximately £16,000. A hidden room next door housed a cannabis cultivation setup with 24 plants, while 1.5 kilograms of amphetamine was found at Lesley’s residence. Along with the drugs, officers seized imitation firearms, a crossbow, and a homemade flamethrower constructed from a fire extinguisher filled with petrol. Video evidence showed Ian Claughton demonstrating the flamethrower.
When interviewed, Claughton described the devices as “crow-scarers” designed to frighten intruders, similar to firework-type noise makers. He also claimed the switch guns he ordered were intended for a birthday party and believed them to be harmless blank-firing replicas. Claughton further stated that the amphetamine was for his personal use to manage weight loss and chronic fatigue, and alleged he cultivated cannabis under threat from others without direct financial gain. He even admitted to modelling his home defense on the booby traps from the movie Home Alone, saying the flamethrower was used to impress people during Bonfire Night celebrations.
Before the trial, Ian Claughton pleaded guilty to offences including importing a realistic imitation firearm, involvement in cannabis production, and possession with intent to supply amphetamines and cannabis. Following the trial, he was convicted of additional charges including possession of firearms, possession of criminal property, and possession of explosive substances. His ex-wife was found guilty of related offenses involving imitation firearms, possession and intent to supply drugs, and possession of criminal property.
Detective Superintendent Al Burns, leading the YHROCU investigation, described Claughton’s involvement in drug crime as “very significant” and noted his extreme measures to protect his illicit business. Burns said, “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, drawing inspiration from Macaulay Culkin’s character in the popular Christmas film Home Alone. 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.”
Senior Crown Prosecutor Helen Wragg emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “Ian and Lesley Claughton ran a significant drugs operation from their properties, going to extraordinary lengths to protect their illegal enterprise. The traps, explosives, and weapons found were not props from a film, but real devices capable of causing serious harm.”
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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