A man has been jailed for seven years after rigging three homes with homemade booby traps straight out of a Christmas film.
Ian Claughton, 60, and his ex-wife Lesley Claughton fortified their houses in Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, to keep intruders away. Lesley received a 21-month suspended sentence.
The court heard the traps included modified crow scarers, fishing wire, stun guns, and even a homemade flame-thrower. Prosecutor Helen Chapman told jurors that Claughton had said he wanted his houses to resemble the elaborate defences in Home Alone.
Claughton was convicted of possessing prohibited firearms, possession of criminal property, and possession of explosive substances. He denied trying to hurt anyone, claiming the flame-thrower was built to “wow” visitors on Bonfire Night. Outside his workshop, a warning sign read: “Prepare and get themselves measured up for their own coffin.”
The couple were caught when Border Force officers intercepted parcels from China containing imitation firearms. Police raided the homes in May 2024, evacuating about 130 nearby properties while a bomb squad made the houses safe.
Officers found large amounts of cash, including £27,000 stitched into a sofa, along with a crossbow, crossbow bolts, a knife, and amphetamines hidden in everyday items such as a breadbin and a chocolate box.
Detective Superintendent Al Burns said Claughton had a “siege mentality” and went to “unusual and elaborate lengths” to protect his homes. He added the traps caused “serious concerns” and “significant disruption” to the local community.