COVID-19 lockdown: Man jailed for travelling from Scotland to the Isle of Man by jet ski to see his girlfriend

A lovesick roofer has been jailed for breaking coronavirus rules after he used a jet ski to travel from Scotland to the Isle of Man to see his girlfriend.

Dale McLaughlan, 28, who had never used a jet ski, took four hours to cross 25 miles (40km) from Scotland's Isle of Whithorn to Ramsey on the Isle of Man last Friday.

After reaching land, Mr McLaughlan trekked another 15 miles to his girlfriend's home in the capital, Douglas.

But his romantic gesture landed him in hot water when he was arrested and charged with illegally entering the isle.

Mr McLaughlan from Irvine, North Ayrshire, first met his girlfriend, Jessica Radcliffe, 25, in September while working in Douglas. After returning to Scotland, he applied for permission to visit the Isle of Man but was refused.

Undeterred by the ban and determined to be reunited with Miss Radcliffe, he bought a jet ski and set off across the Irish Sea.

He thought the crossing would take about 40 minutes, but his lack of experience saw the trip take him more than four hours.

Visitors who leave the island, which has had 373 Covid-19 cases among its 84,000 population, must have written permission to re-enter. After arriving, Mr McLaughlan he took his girlfriend on a night out. When he was arrested, Mr McLaughlan claimed to have been living at her home.

The court was told she was unaware he had ever left the Isle of Man and thought he had been working elsewhere on the island.