House 'rigged with explosives Home Alone-style'

A large police cordon was in place on Brierley Road during the search in May

A man accused of rigging his house with trip wires and explosives told police he had been inspired by the film Home Alone, a court heard.

Three properties in Grimethorpe, Barnsley, allegedly linked to Ian Claughton, 60, were "heavily fortified" with fishing wire, adapted crow-scarers and weapons such as a stun gun and home-made flamethrower.

Helen Chapman, prosecuting, told the opening of his trial at Doncaster Crown Court earlier that Mr Claughton had been "protecting a drug den with minor explosives", alleging he had been involved in the growing and supply of cannabis with wife Lesley, 59.

The duo, of Brierley Road, are accused of several drugs and firearms offences, some of which they deny.

Mr Claughton has pleaded guilty to bringing a realistic imitation firearm into Great Britain, being concerned in production of a controlled drug of Class B, namely cannabis and possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class B, namely amphetamine and cannabis.

He denies possession of prohibited firearms (three counts), possession of criminal property and possession of explosive substances.

Lesley Claughton has pleaded not guilty to bringing a realistic imitation firearm into Great Britain, possessing Class B drugs with intent, possessing of criminal property and being concerned in production of Class B drugs.

Police evacuated a number of properties in Grimethorpe in May last year

The jury heard how dozens of homes were evacuated in May 2024 when officers raided the Claughtons' homes in Grimethorpe following a tip-off from Border Force officers.

Ms Chapman said: "When police attended, they found properties that were heavily protected - they needed to be because they were full of drugs and cash.

"It appears both defendants had been engaged in the possession, supply and production of illegal drugs for some time and had made a significant amount of money, some of which they kept squirrelled away at those addresses."

During their searches, police found a stun gun hidden behind a fridge-freezer, she said, as well as an air-powered gun and a home-made flamethrower made from a fire extinguisher.

Ms Chapman said while Mr Claughton denied the item was his, there was evidence of him using it.

"Either to protect his stash of drugs or out of an interest in weapons and adapting them to make them dangerous – or perhaps a mixture of both," she said.

'Drugs in Maltesers box'

In that property, she said, police found a large quantity of dried cannabis, some of which was "bagged up and ready to go", alongside a tent full of plants and growing equipment inside two hidden rooms.

Ms Chapman said a recorded conversation between Mr and Mrs Claughton evidenced that she "knew exactly what was going on and that she was benefitting from it".

Inside a second property, occupied by their daughter and her partner, police found more plants and growing equipment in the back garden.

At a third property, police found amphetamine, stored in a Maltesers chocolate box in the fridge as well as 1.5kg of the drug in "little snack bags" in the bread bin.

Police also found a crossbow, crossbow bolts, a knife, more drugs and "an enormous amount of cash", including £27,000 hidden in a sofa.

The defendants claimed the money had come from their children, inheritance and an old business that had wound up.

During his interview with police, Mr Claughton is said to have explained where his devices were and how they worked, saying he had installed them to prevent intruders.

"The devices were linked trip wires which would cause them to explode," Ms Chapman said.

"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."

The trial continues.

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