A man has been jailed for two years after being found guilty of attempting to steal a number of sheep from a farm in Zurrieq in November 2011.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia jailed Richard Calleja, 33, from Msida, after hearing that the police had seen him loading sheep onto his Isuzu van on the night of November 4, 2011.

Although the sheep were never found in his possession because the police had not chased the accused since they had not yet received a report about the theft, the court found him guilty based on circumstantial evidence.

The court heard that the police were on patrol that evening and saw a man loading sheep onto a van. They continued driving and when they were around two kilometres away, they received a call from the control room regarding the alleged theft of sheep.

By the time they drove back, they saw the van being driven at high speed but since there were lots of sheep in the road, they decided to see to the danger they could be posing rather than give chase.

When Mr Calleja was arrested, he admitted that he was driving the van but denied that he had stolen or tried to steal any sheep.

However, the court noted the police testimony plus the accused's declaration that the van was in his possession and found Mr Calleja guilty of the charge and of damaging the gate and the wall leading to the farm.

Although he was cleared of being a relapser despite previous theft cases, the court said Mr Calleja had been given various chances to reform but he had not taken advantage of them.

The magistrate therefore jailed him for two years after noting that he had committed the crime during the operative term of a probation order.