A Scottish man was jailed for breaking COVID-19 laws after crossing the Irish Sea on a jet ski to visit his girlfriend on the Isle of Man.
28-year-old Dale McLaughlan received jail time for four weeks after admitting to arriving unlawfully on the island. He traveled from Whithorn, Scotland, to Ramsey, a town north from the Isle of Man.
McLaughlan expected the journey to take him 40 minutes, but it ended up taking four and a half hours.
Under the isle’s current laws, non-residents can only enter if given special permission.
Previously, McLaughlan was granted permission to work as a roofer on the island for four weeks during September, after isolating for 14 days before meeting his girlfriend on a night out.
Douglas Courthouse heard McLaughlan’s next application to return was rejected.
Prosecutors said that McLaughlan purchased the jet ski and boated for around 25 miles.
The Scottish Romeo arrived in Ramsey at 1pm last Friday and walked another 15 miles to his girlfriend’s home in Douglas.
His partner believed he had been on the island, working for several weeks, as reported to the court.
The following day, McLaughlan gave police her address instead of his own and proceeded to attend two nightclubs with her that evening.
Police carried out identification checks and arrested him on Sunday evening.
McLaughlan’s defence lawyer stated he suffered from depression and was unable to cope without seeing his girlfriend.
Deputy High Bailiff Christopher Arrowsmith said McLaughlan placed the community at risk by making “a deliberate and intentional attempt to circumnavigate” border restrictions and stated the “carefully planned” attempt put him at risk of harm.
A government spokesman said after the hearing that public health officials were “satisfied” there was “no wider risk to the public.”
