Man jailed for Scotland-Isle of Man jet ski crossing

Dale McLaughlan, who crossed the Irish Sea from Scotland to the Isle of Man “on a jet ski” to visit his girlfriend, has been jailed for breaching Covid-19 laws, according to BBC News.

On Friday, determined to see her despite coronavirus rules banning non-residents from entering the island without special permission, he made the four-and-a-half-hour journey by jet ski despite never having driven a personal watercraft before, reports The Guardian. He had expected the journey to take 40 minutes, prosecutors said.

After departing the Isle of Whithorn in the morning and arriving in the northern town of Ramsey at 1pm, McLaughlan then walked 15 miles to its capital, Douglas.

He gave a policeman his girlfriend’s address as his own. The couple attended two busy nightclubs before he was caught on Sunday following identification checks.

His defence lawyer said in court that McLaughlan suffered from depression and was struggling to cope without his girlfriend. He admitted arriving unlawfully on the island and was sentenced to four weeks in jail.

According to BBC News, when sentencing him, Deputy High Bailiff Christopher Arrowsmith said McLaughlan had made a “deliberate and intentional attempt to circumnavigate” the border restrictions, potentially putting the community at risk.