Man Jailed After Home Alone 'Pipe Bombs' Sparked Major Alert

A drug dealer said to be inspired by the film Home Alone to rig his house with trip wires and home-made ‘pipe bombs’ has been sentenced following an investigation by specialist detectives from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit.

 

A drug dealer said to be inspired by the film Home Alone to rig his house with trip wires and home-made ‘pipe bombs’ has been sentenced today following an investigation by specialist detectives from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Concerns over the nature of the devices discovered at Ian Claughton’s address in the village of Grimethorpe, Barnsley, prompted a huge multi-agency operation lasting three days, and which saw dozens of nearby residents evacuated as a 100-metre cordon was put in place while Army bomb squad experts were called in.

Detectives from YHROCU executed simultaneous warrants at Claughton’s home in Brierley Road, Grimethorpe, and at two linked neighbouring addresses on 8 May 2024, supported by officers from the National Crime Agency.

The operation resulted from the UK Border Force intercepting a package at Heathrow Airport which was sent from China addressed to Claughton’s ex-wife’s neighbouring home in Brierley Road.

The package contained five silver and black ‘switch gun’ five-shot folding revolvers - later confirmed to be realistic imitation firearms, which are illegal to import into the UK other than in certain circumstances.

When officers arrested Claughton during the raid at his address they initially found two primed mantraps, two potential firearms and four large plastic bags of cannabis buds, with an estimated value of £16,000.

A cannabis growing set-up with 24 plants was found hidden in a secret room at one next-door property, and, at his ex-wife’s home, 1.5kg of amphetamine was found.

An array of imitation firearms was also found along with a crossbow and a home-made flamethrower, fashioned from a fire extinguisher filled with petrol. Claughton was seen demonstrating it on a video recovered from his phone.

A large amount of cash was recovered, including £27,000 found stitched into a sofa.

Officers conducted urgent interviews with Claughton to assist bomb disposal experts in assessing the suspicious devices found at the property so the scene could be made safe.

He told officers the devices were ‘crow scarers’, similar to banger type fireworks, which he had adapted by placing them in plastic piping sealed with expanding foam and wrapped in plastic sheeting. He had attached them to trip wires to deter anyone breaking into his home.

One device on a back door was rigged to a trip wire which was also connected to a 12v battery and an air horn. Another was rigged in his bedroom, and he had planned to put a third device inside a bag of paint to mark any intruder.

His home had been targeted by burglars previously, who were believed to be looking for the cannabis grow, and Claughton told officers he got the inspiration for his booby traps from the Macaulay Culkin film Home Alone.

He told officers he had ordered the imported ‘switch guns’ believing they were blank firers that he intended to use at a themed birthday party. He said the amphetamine was his to use for weight loss and chronic fatigue, and that he had been growing the cannabis under duress and threats from unnamed others and that he had not benefited financially.

He and his ex-wife Lesley Claughton were charged with firearms and drugs offences.

Ian Claughton, aged 60, pleaded guilty to bringing a realistic imitation firearm into the country; being concerned in the production of cannabis; and two counts of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, amphetamines and cannabis.

He had denied three counts of possessing prohibited firearms – one in relation to the flamethrower; possession of criminal property in relation to the recovered cash; and possession of explosive substances.

Following a trial at Doncaster Crown Court, which concluded in November last year, he was convicted of those offences but was found not guilty on one of the firearms charges relating to a stun gun found at his address.

Lesley Claughton, aged 59, was found guilty of bringing a realistic imitation firearm into the country; possessing Class B drugs, cannabis and amphetamines, with intent to supply; possession of criminal property and being concerned in production of cannabis.

Both were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court yesterday.

Ian Claughton was sentenced to seven years and Lesley Claughton was sentenced to 21 months suspended for two years.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Al Burns, of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “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, drawing inspiration from Macaulay Culkin’s character in the popular Christmas film Home Alone.

“When he tried to import realistic looking firearms from China, which were diligently intercepted by UK Border Force staff, we became involved and carried out raids on his addresses.

“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, which were rightly met with an appropriate multi-agency response to safeguard the public until military experts could declare the scene safe.

“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.

“This investigation is an excellent example of how national and local law enforcement agencies can work alongside the military, partners in other emergencies services, and local authorities to keep the public safe.”

Detective Superintendent Emma Wheatcroft, who was the Superintendent of Barnsley and silver commander at the time, said: "This incident caused some real concern and disruption within the community of Grimethorpe, with some residents having to be evacuated from their homes.

"I would like to again express our thanks to those residents and the wider local community for their support while our officers worked alongside colleagues from the YHROCU and other emergency services to make the area safe again.

"Firearms and weapons such as these have no place on our streets, where innocent people live and work. Thankfully, no one was hurt during this incident, but that could have been very different.

"We will continue to support our colleagues from the YHROCU in their operations tackling the importation of firearms into this country and will continue to work hard to keep the residents of Barnsley safe.”