Sunday Mail (UK)

Romeo on his jetski terror

- Patrick Hill

Lockdown Romeo Dale McLaughlan has told of his mad, terror-filled trip across the Irish Sea and said: “I did it for love.”

The smitten roofer forked out £5500 for a jetski so he could be reunited with Jessica Radcliffe, who he had met just weeks earlier.

Dale, 28, set off from the southern tip of Scotland to the Isle of Man. But the 27-mile journey was anything but smooth and he went from lockdown to locked up for breaking Covid rules.

Speaking for the first time since his release, Dale admitted what he did was “crazy”.

He said: “As soon as I hit open water, I thought, ‘Oh my God.’ It was like getting a kick in the teeth.

“It was terrible. It wasn’t fun. I followed the GPS but after half an hour a massive wave wiped it away. I didn’t have a clue where I was going.”

Dale, who had never even sat on a jetski before, also revealed how:

● He was battered by waves for four-and-a-half hours after veering off course.

● He held on for dear life and felt like “a crappy James Bond”.

● With his fuel light showing empty, he finally landed – in the wrong town. So he had to trek 15 miles on foot to Jessica’s home.

Dale said turning around was “never an option”. He was spurred on by listening to love songs, including, fittingly, Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet and Wind Of Change by Scorpions.

After a romantic reunion and a trip to the pub, police nicked Dale and he spent 10 days in jail.

Dale, from Irvine, Ayrshire, fell for mum-of-two Jessica, 30, during a stint working on the Isle of Man in September.

He said: “I met Jess at the pub. I saw her walk in wearing a black skirt and a top and just thought, ‘I need to talk to you.’

“I was staring at her. She actually said I was a bit creepy but she loved my eyes. She said, ‘I saw you looking at me’ – and it kicked off from there.”

They had a romantic week together before Dale’s work permit expired and he headed home at the start of October.

He added: “The minute I got on that ferry, I knew I was making one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I had to find a way back. I told Jessica within a week of knowing her, ‘I actually think I love you.’ She said, ‘ I know – it’s crazy, isn’t it?’”

Since Covid, non- residents need permission to visit the island.

Dale applied for a permit – even on compassion­ate grounds – but was refused. Breaching the rules carries up to three months in jail or a fine of up to £10,000.

Desperate Dale decided to take matters into his own hands. He considered paying a f isherman to smuggle him over. Then a pal said he knew a boy who used to jetski to the Isle of Man for the TT races.

Dale spotted a jetski online for £ 5500 on December 10. Two days later he met the seller at a Carlisle petrol station and was shown the basic controls. Dale bought a marine GPS for £100, a dry bag for £20 and a drysuit for £ 350. He also took a Covid test in preparatio­n, which was negative. But no one knew of his plan – not least Jessica.

Dale said: “I bought the jetski at 4pm. I drove to the Isle of Whithorn at 5am next day. “The first time I’d even stood on a jetski was in that harbour. It was 27 miles from that point to the Isle of Man. I knew the jetski could do 52mph. I thought it would take 45 minutes. I tried checking maps and oceanic currents, which I didn’t have a clue how to read.

“It said on the weather the waves were only going to be 2-3ft. When I set off, it was raining and the waves were way higher. Then I lost the GPS. I remembered the sun rises from the east so I kept it over my left shoulder and went as fast as I could. After two hours I thought, ‘ Where the bloody hell am I?’ I couldn’t see a thing. It was foggy, raining, 6ft waves were hitting me. I thought I was lost at sea. I was scared.

“It was about two degrees but with water and the wind it felt a lot colder. My hands were numb, my forearms aching. My shoulders were in pain for days from clinging on.

“The water knocked me all over. One minute I was staring at the sky going up a 6ft wave and the next I was staring down into the abyss. The water was black and was getting in my eyes and mouth. But the thought of Jessica kept me driving on.

“I’d planned to do 50mph but I was lucky if I was getting to 25mph. Every time I tried to accelerate, a massive wave knocked me back.”

Dale literally had a sinking feeling when his petrol light pinged “empty” – meaning he would run out within 10 minutes. But despair was swept away by euphoria as the Isle of Man came intoo view. He said: “I felt such bloody relief. The closer I got, the sunnier it got. It was like a beacon of hope.””

He landed at 12.30pm – unaware he was snapped as he sailed into Ramsey harbour.

Dale said: “I had my bag with Jessica’s Christmass presents. I got her a watch, a coat and a couple off girly smelly things.

“I took the dry suit off, leaving my tracksuit onn underneath, and marched to Jess’s house inn Douglas. It was about 15 miles. I just stuck myy headphones on and off I went.

“I was listening to power ballads. It sounds soo cheesy but I love a good ballad.”

Dale arrived at Jess’s home at 4pm. He added:: “She peeked her head out of the window and lett out a bit of a scream.

“She opened the door, jumped around my waist t and gave me a big kiss. I said, ‘Hi babe!’ I was still l a bit smelly from the water.”

Jessica said: “He gave me the biggest hug

Waves were hitting me, I was so cold but thought of Jessica drove me on

– DALE McLAUGHLAN ON MADCAP JETSKI MISSION

ever. He was so nervous he couldn’ t he couldn’ t talk. I said, ‘Calm down’! I was just so glad I’d got to see him again.” The next night they were stopped by police as they went to a pub. Officers let the couple go on their way. But a knock on Jessica’s door came the next evening.

Dale said: “They stuck handcuffs on me for breaching Covid rules. I didn’t deny it – I was caught redhanded. The police had pictures of me arriving on the island and wanted to know how I got there.

“When I told them, one said, ‘ You’re bloody lucky to be alive. I know people that wouldn’t try that during the summer on a boat.’” Incredibly, it was the first Jessica knew of the jetski. She added: “I was in disbelief. I was arrested too and people are saying I got away with it. I hadn’t done anything wrong but was handcuffed in front of my daughter and had to self-isolate with my children for 14 days. I think it’s a joke that Dale was put in jail.”

Dale was jailed for four weeks on December 14 for arriving unlawfully on the island. But he was released in time to get home for Christmas.

Dale apologised to islanders for the trouble he caused and said he can’t wait to join their community.

He added: “I can’t thank the judge enough. Something in him understood. He could have thrown the book at me but he didn’t. I was locked up 24/7 in isolation because of Covid. My meals

were passed through the door. The guard said I’d made the papers around the world. The New York Times were trying to call me. I was like, ‘ What? I’m just a guy from Scotland!’ “People are saying I’m a legend. I think I’ve lifted a lot of spirits. A lot of people say I’ve made a good end to a terrible year. That made me feel better. “Others think I’ve done a terrible thing. My car tyres got slashed on the Isleof Whithorn. “I broke the law. But I did it for love. I feel like there is one rule for people in power, like Dominic Cummings, Margaret Ferrier, Catherine Calderwood and Professor Neil Ferguson, who have broken the rules, and another rule for people like me. I wouldn’t say I regret it but I’m sorry for whatever stress I’ve caused. I should never have done what I did. I think it was what could be called a crime of passion.”

Dale wants to marry Jessica, who raised his spirits after the death of his dad Billy Banaghan, 68, from cancer. Dale – diagnosed with depression after Bil ly passed away last January – added: “It felt like I was in limbo. Going to work, coming home, staring at a TV. That was my life until I met Jessica. I would do anything for her. I’d move there tomorrow if it wasn’t for Covid. The Isle of Man is now famous for the TT and one crazy jetski guy!”

Jessica has two daughters, aged eight and four, whi le Dale’s children are three and six months. The pair are hoping to have more children. Jessica added: “I love Dale. How could I not after what he did? I would like to marry him. He’s got to get over here first – legally this time!”

I’m sorry for whatever stress I’ve caused... it was a crime of passion

– ROMEO DALE ON COVID

JAUNT THAT LED TO JAIL

 ??  ?? LOVE Dale McLaughlan
LOVE Dale McLaughlan
 ??  ?? on a work trip
ARRIVAL Dale lands – unaware he was caught on camera
on a work trip ARRIVAL Dale lands – unaware he was caught on camera
 ??  ?? E ROMANC
Dale met Jess
E ROMANC Dale met Jess
 ?? Phil Dye ?? BESOTTED Dale is back home but can’t wait for reunion Pic
WELCOME Jessica greeted Dale with big kiss
ROUTE
Journey fromfro Isle of Whithorn to Ramsey
Phil Dye BESOTTED Dale is back home but can’t wait for reunion Pic WELCOME Jessica greeted Dale with big kiss ROUTE Journey fromfro Isle of Whithorn to Ramsey

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