Man rigged ‘Home Alone-style’ house with explosives to protect drug stash

The defendants, whose case is being heard in Doncaster Crown Court, deny several drugs and firearm offences that they are accused of.

The “heavily protected” properties in Grimethorpe, Barnsley, contained a variety of drugs and weapons.

Mr Claughton has pleaded not guilty of possession of prohibited firearms (three counts), possession of criminal property and possession of explosive substances.

His wife 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.

Mr Claughton has pleaded guilty of possession of marijuana, possession with intent to supply amphetamines and cannabis, and bringing a realistic imitation firearm into the country.

Helen Chapman, the prosecutor of the case 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."

A tip off from Border Force officers led to a dozen homes being evacuated in May 2024, the jury heard.

Police raided the properties and found a stun gun hidden behind a fridge-freezer, a home-made flame thrower made out of a fire extinguisher, and an air-powered gun.

The prosecutor said that while Mr Claughton denied possession of the weapons, there was evidence of him using them “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”.

Ms Chapman said that in that same property the police found a large quantity of marijuana and a space full of cannabis plants with growing equipment.

In a second property occupied by their daughter and her partner the police found more cannabis plants and their growing equipment.

The police found amphetamine in a Maltesers box and 1.5kg of the drug in “little snack bags” in the bread bin.

Police found more weapons in that property, including a crossbow, crossbow bolts, and a knife.

They also found “an enormous amount of cash”, which included £27,000 hidden in a sofa.

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

During his interview with police, Mr Claughton explained his reasoning for the trip wires and weapons, saying they were needed for protection from intruders.

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

"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."