Crossing broke virus rules
Dale arrives on island
A MAN who rode a jet ski from Scotland to the Isle of Man to see his girlfriend has been jailed for breaching Covid regulations.
A court heard Dale McLaughlan, 28, had never ridden a water scooter before when he set out from Isle of Whithorn to Ramsey.
He reckoned the 25-mile crossing would take 40 minutes, but in rough seas it took almost five hours.
He left at 8am on Friday and after eventually reaching Ramsey, he walked 15 miles to girlfriend Jessica Radcliffe’s home in Douglas.
Under Covid rules, non- residents sidents must get t special permission sion to enter the he Isle of
Man.
McLaughlan, aughlan, from I Ir r v ine ine, , Ayrsh h ire , admitted tted arriving ng unlawfully and was jailed for four weeks. Douglas court heard how McLaughlan had been given special dispensation ttion to work on the is island as a roofer roof in Sept September, e whe when he met Jessica. H e app l ied twic twice for ano another p ermi t
McLaughlan and Jessica to visit, but was turned down. After his jet ski trip he was confronted by police in Douglas on Saturday and arrested at Jessica’s home.
Appearing via a videolink, McLaughlan said he had a negative Covid test before his trip, and while on the island.
Deputy High Bailiff Christopher Arrowsmith said: “He deliberately attempted to circumvent entry regulations.”