Barnsley man who rigged his home with booby traps in 'Home Alone' style scheme jailed
Detectives found pipe bombs and a home made flamethrower at the home in Grimethorpe
Last updated 10th Feb 2026
A Barnsley drug dealer who rigged his home with trip wires and home-made explosives, in a 'Home Alone' inspired attempt to prevent authorities raiding his property, has been jailed.
Ian Claughton, aged 60, received a seven-year sentence, while his ex-wife Lesley, aged 59, received 21 months suspended for two years at Sheffield Crown Court.
Detectives fire came to the Claughton’s home in Brierley Road, Grimethorpe in May 2024, after a package containing firearms was intercepted at Heathrow - addressed to South Yorkshire.
Once the risk posed by the home became clear the army bomb squad had to be drafted in, with a 100 metre cordon was set up and neighbouring homes evacuated.
A raid on their home uncovered various weapons, including a homemade flamethrower and trip wires rigged to improvised explosive devices.
Paper signs inside the property warned police "It's no joke, everything booby trapped".
Ian Claughton told police that he had drawn inspiration for these traps from the movie Home Alone.
Detectives found substantial quantities of drugs and cash during the raid.
Senior 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."
Ian Claughton admitted 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 was found guilty of possessing prohibited firearms – one in relation to the flamethrower; possession of criminal property and possession of explosive substances.
His former wife Lesley was convicted 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.