Assault victim has all his firearms seized by police

A pest controller and deerstalker from Hertfordshire had his firearms seized after he called the police to report an assault. 

Peter Littlejohn was attacked on 21 December 2023 and, two days later, police visited his home to ask that he “voluntarily hand over his guns”. The officers, who were not qualified to handle firearms, allowed Mr Littlejohn to remove expensive night-vision units and scopes from his rifles before moving the guns to lock-up. 

Having lost his firearms as a result of his assault, Mr Littlejohn has waited almost a year to have them returned and has struggled to get responses from his local firearms officers. The police have, however, agreed to hand the guns over to Mr Littlejohn’s local gunshop, Ronnie Sunshines in Berkhamsted. 

A Hertfordshire Constabulary statement said: “The firearm was obtained as part of an investigation which has since concluded. While we appreciate that the process to carry out necessary checks is taking longer than the resident would like, we have a duty to protect the public and ensure a thorough review is undertaken.” 

The police review was completed in June 2024. However, the statement suggests police believe, incorrectly, that officers only seized one gun. 

Mr Littlejohn’s assailant has been found guilty and charged by St Albans Magistrates since the firearms were seized.