Peter Junior Littlejohn: Narrogin man avoids jail after setting bins on fire and destroying hotel property

A Narrogin man who set a bin on fire at the Narrogin Health Service and Narrogin Caravan Park and destroyed Duke of York Hotel property has avoided jail. Peter Junior Littlejohn appeared in Narrogin Magistrates Court via videolink from custody on March 18 for sentencing on two counts of criminal damage, for which he was convicted on February 18. Police arrested Littlejohn on November 10, 2024, after he deployed a fire extinguisher without reason in the Duke of York Hotel hallway and destroyed an exit sign at 3.30am. Less than two months later, on December 29, the 39-year-old set fire to a bin at the Narrogin Health Service. Later that day, he lit a Narrogin Caravan Park bin on fire in front of the caretaker’s residence and vehicle. He called triple 0 when the blaze became uncontrolled and was later found by police hiding in a bush 300 metres from the fire holding a bottle of alcohol and a shovel. Littlejohn was arrested by Narrogin police and held in custody. Littlejohn told police at the time of his arrest he was hearing voices when he damaged the Duke of York Hotel. His defence lawyer Wendy Stewart told the court her client offended as a cry for help due to his declining mental health and did not intend to hurt anybody or for the fire to spread. Ms Stewart said Littlejohn had self-medicated with methamphetamine for back pain and had stopped taking his mental health medication at the time. He understood it was a bad decision and took full responsibility. Prosecutor Sgt Natalie Parkyn told the magistrate she believed a term of imprisonment was appropriate as the offending put “places, lives, and infrastructure at extreme risk”. Despite this, Magistrate Erin O’Donnell did not agree Littlejohn would benefit from imprisonment and his early pleas of guilty were mitigating factors. Littlejohn was sentenced to an eight-month community order with conditions. Ms O’Donnell strongly recommended mental health support but did not include that in the court order.