A hunter who made the headlines in November 2016 after he shot down a booted eagle was jailed and fined and given a lifelong hunting ban.

Read: Man pleads not guilty to shooting booted eagle

Justin Chetcuti, from Mosta, had been captured on video by a team of Birdlife members who were surveying the area of Buskett and Tal-Virtu' in Rabat where a flock of eagles were expected to roost.

BirdLife activists had filmed the booted eagle spiraling downwards before landing in a field.  They had observed the suspect behind the shooting, a bare-chested man, through a telescope and even captured him on camera.

Watch: Poachers try to shoot down eagles in four separate incidents

Five police officers and three BirdLife volunteers had testified over the incident.

Several members from the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit testified how the accused had been tracked down in the area, disarmed and taken for questioning.

On Wednesday, magistrate Antonio Vella declared the man guilty, jailed him for one year and fined him €5,000.  His hunting licence was also revoked for life.

It is understood that the man’s lawyers gave notice of appeal.

Inspector Pierguido Saliba prosecuted.  Lawyers Matthew Bondin and Maroushka Debono were defence counsel.

Watch: 'It's normal for us hunters to feel like the victims'