Paranoid cannabis and amphetamine dealer Ian Claughton and his wife Lesley rigged their home with trip wires, explosives, flamethrowers and firearms to deter cannabis thieves
A drug dealing husband and wife booby-trapped their home with flamethrowers, trip wires and explosives.
Paranoid cannabis and amphetamine dealer Ian Claughton set up numerous “boobytraps” all over his home in an attempt to deter thieves from raiding his drug stash.
Detectives became suspicious after border force officials intercepted an order made from Claughton’s ex-wife Lesley Claughton’s eBay account for “realistic imitation firearms ” from China.
A search warrant was executed at the couple’s home in Brierley Road, Grimethorpe, and officers discovered two linked neighbouring addresses hiding many secrets. “It was rigged up with explosive devices, fashioned from a flame thrower made by a fire extinguisher,” the judge His Honour Judge Reeds KC, said.
Officers also discovered two firearms loaded and ready to fire rubber steel projectiles. The court heard that any potential thief targeting the properties would believe the firearms discovered were “real,” Yorkshire Live reports.
“I’m sure all of these items were there in order to protect your cannabis grow,” the judge told the pair at the hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday
Cops published a picture of a ‘notice’ Claughton had draw up, with drawings of bombs with “TNT” written on them, it read: “WARNING. Do not enter these premises unless invited to do so. The premises and its surrounding buildings, yard are booby trapped. You have been warned. [Redacted] no longer lives, works here. It’s no joke, everything booby trapped.”
Another note read: “CONGRATULATIONS.” Well done for getting this far. Now would be a good time to get measured up for your coffin and say goodbye to loved ones. This gate is electrified in excess of 50,000 volts. Enter at own risk, be warned.”
When stunned officers interviewed Claughton about his home he told cops his traps were were crow scarers, similar to banger-type fireworks, which he had adapted and attached to trip wires to deter break-ins.
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.
Claughton told officers he got the inspiration for his booby traps from the Macaulay Culkin film Home Alone. His home had been targeted by burglars previously, who were believed to be looking for the cannabis grow.
Inside cops found an “array of imitation firearms,” and a crossbow. They also found two rooms filled with cannabis plants. It was said Ian Claughton, 60, was going to Leeds to sell the cannabis and was expecting £40,000 for growing it.
“It is no surprise the police found a large amount of cash hidden in your sofa. The drug business was not confined to cannabis. Ian Claughton, you pleaded guilty to possessing amphetamine with intent to supply. It was hidden in Lesley Claughton’s fridge,” the judge said.
While the idea and business was her husband’s, the judge said Lesley Claughton was “happy to share in the proceeds” and encouraged the illegality “for your own benefit”.
“It was obvious while he had a leading role, you knew what was going on,” he added.
Ian Claughton had previously 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 but was convicted of all but one firearm offence relating to a stun gun found at his address following a trial at Doncaster Crown Court last year.
Lesley Claughton, 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.
Ian Claughton was jailed for seven years, while Lesley Claughton was made the subject of a 21-month suspended sentence. No community punishment was included, due to her having already served a 21-month curfew. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing was fixed for a later date.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Al Burns said after the trial: “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.”
