Husband charged with setting ‘man trap’ at couple’s home
Already facing drugs and firearms offences alongside his wife, a husband has now also been accused of setting a man trap at their home in a former mining community in South Yorkshire.
More than 130 people had to be evacuated from their properties and army bomb disposal experts were called in, following the discovery of suspicious items at a house in the village of Grimethorpe, near Barnsley.
On Friday, police confirmed that Ian Claughton, 58, and Lesley Claughton, 57, both of Brierley Road, had been charged with bringing a realistic firearm into the UK, two counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs, possession of a firearm and being concerned with the production of class B drugs.
South Yorkshire Police said Mr Claughton had also been charged with setting a man trap with intent under which to inflict grievous bodily harm. The charge comes under the Offences Against the Person Act, which dates back to 1861.
Locals in the quiet community of Grimethorpe – which is famous for its world renowned colliery brass band – first became aware of the incident on Wednesday, when officers swooped on a house in Brierley Road.
The raid was carried out by officers from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, the National Crime Agency and South Yorkshire Police.
Locals were evacuated from their homes
Detectives said they discovered a number of suspicious items during the course of the searches and, as a result, called in the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (EOD) and Military Ordnance Disposal (MOD) team.
Locals were evacuated from their homes and a 100m cordon was put in place, as a precautionary measure.
The suspicious items were successfully removed Wednesday and local residents were allowed to return to their homes later that day.
Detective chief inspector Al Burns, from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “First of all I would like to express my gratitude to our partners at South Yorkshire Police and the NCA, but most importantly the community in Grimethorpe whose patience and support was greatly appreciated whilst we conducted our enquiries.
“Both people involved have now been charged with serious offences and will be appearing at court today. Our investigation will remain ongoing.”
Mr and Mrs Claughton were due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates Court on Friday.
