A hunter yesterday felt the heavy hand of the law when he was given a suspended jail term, fined and banned for life from owning a gun and having a hunting licence.

This was not the first time that 27-year-old Kevin Zerafa, from Marsascala, was convicted of illegal hunting and, in fact, he was also charged with relapsing.

In this case, he was caught hunting protected storks on May 19, last year at about 4 p.m.

He admitted to the charge and to hunting illegally, carrying a loaded firearm without a licence and keeping dead protected species. During a raid on his home, police officers had found about 16 dead birds in a freezer.

Magistrate Anthony Vella handed down an 18-month jail term for three years, fined Mr Zerafa €1,500 and banned him from getting a hunting licence and gun licence for life. His shotgun was confiscated.

Police Inspector Ramon Mercieca prosecuted.