Roofer, 28, who crossed the Irish Sea from Scotland to the Isle of Man on a JET SKI to visit his girlfriend is jailed for four weeks for breaking Covid rules after four-and-a-half-hour journey
- Dale McLaughlan made daring trip despite never driving such a vehicle before
- After reaching land, he had to trek another 15 miles on foot to see his partner
- The 28-year-old was jailed for four weeks after admitting arriving unlawfully
- Do you know Dale McLaughlan? Get in touch: tom.pyman@mailonline.co.uk
A roofer who spent four and a half hours on a jet ski crossing the Irish Sea to visit his girlfriend has been jailed for breaking coronavirus rules.
Dale McLaughlan made the daring trip from the Isle of Whithorn in Scotland to Ramsey on the Isle of Man on Friday, despite never having driven a jet ski before.
The 28-year-old thought the 25-mile journey would take 40 minutes but in fact it took him almost five hours.
After eventually making landfall, he then had to trek another 15 miles on foot before finally arriving at his partner’s home in Douglas, the island’s largest town.
McLaughlan first met his partner on a night out in September after he was granted permission to spend four weeks working on the island, which has enforced strict border rules during the pandemic.
After returning to the mainland, McLaughlan made subsequent attempts to go back to the island to see his new lover, but was denied permission by the authorities.
So he bought a jet ski and set off across the Irish Sea.
A graphic shows the 25-mile trip Dale McLaughlan made from Scotland to the Isle of Man, breaking coronavirus restrictions, to see his girlfriend
He made the daring trip from the Isle of Whithorn in Scotland to Ramsey on the Isle of Man on Friday despite never driving such a vehicle before. File picture
After the four-and-a-half-hour journey, he arrived at Ramsey harbour, pictured, on Friday
After finally making it to her house, the couple went out clubbing together, the court heard.
When a police officer asked McLaughlan his address, he gave them his girlfriend’s instead of his own. He was arrested on Sunday after officers checked his details.
Island rules mean those who aren’t residents need special permission to enter, which McLaughlan didn’t have.
The 28-year-old, of Warrix Avenue in Irvine, North Ayrshire, admitted arriving unlawfully on the island and was jailed for four weeks.
The court was told in mitigation the roofer suffered from depression and was struggling with not being allowed to see his partner.
In sentencing, Deputy High Bailiff Christopher Arrowsmith said McLaughlan had made a ‘deliberate and intentional attempt to circumnavigate’ the island’s rules, and was potentially putting the community at risk.
The current ‘Level 4’ system allows those who live on the island to make non-essential journeys beyond, but must self-isolate for 14 days upon returning.
However, those who don’t live on the island must complete a registration form and be granted an entry certificate to be allowed in.
Mr Arrowsmith added that the defendant’s ‘carefully planned’ journey had also put McLaughlan himself ‘at very real risk’ of harm.
Public health officials were satisfied there was no wider risk to the public as a result of the incident, it was reported after the hearing.
Speaking at her home in Irvine last night, McLaughlan’s mother Allison told the Sun: ‘I didn’t even know about the jet ski. I just don’t know why he did it – he could have killed himself.’
Miss McLaughlan added: ‘He’ll be missing his kids over Christmas.’
There have been just 373 confirmed Covid-19 cases on the Isle of Man since March, with four active cases at the moment and none in hospital.
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