A man has been jailed for four weeks on the Isle of Man after breaking coronavirus rules by riding a jet ski from Scotland to the island.
As Sky News reports, 28-year-old Dale McLaughlan — who had never before used a personal water craft — embarked on difficult crossing in rough conditions last Friday (11 December) to visit his partner, whom he met on the island in the Irish Sea while working as a roofer in September.
It’s understood McLaughlan took the drastic measure after he was twice denied a visitor’s permit to the island, which has implemented strict access rules for non-residents to control the pandemic.
However, the move has cost McLaughlan dearly as local police confronted him at the weekend while he was on a night out.
“He was wholly inexperienced in operating a jet ski,” the Isle of Man’s deputy high bailiff said. “He deliberately attempted to avoid detection and circumvent the entry regulations in place to protect the Isle of Man.”
Sky News has more on the story HERE.
