Man who rode jet ski to see partner banned from Isle of Man

A man jailed for riding a jet ski from Scotland to see his girlfriend on the Isle of Man has been refused re-entry into the island.

Dale McLaughlan, 28, had been provided with an exemption certificate issued in the economic interests of the island which allowed him to enter the Isle of Man in September.

He had travelled to the island to complete a construction project that had begun before the pandemic and it was during this time he met his now girlfriend, Jessica Radcliffe, 30.

Jessica has claimed McLaughlan was due to return to the island on January 11 to carry out further roofing work.

However, it has been confirmed that no entry certificate has been issued to allow him back on the Isle of Man.

McLaughlan, a self-employed roofer, returned to Scotland on December 23 after serving just under half of his four-week jail term for breaching the island’s Covid regulations.

It has also been suggested McLaughlan did not adhere to Covid regulations stated on his original entry certificate when he met Jessica in a bar in September.

His original exception certificate, covered from September 13 to October 2, clearly stated he had to self-isolate at all times outside of work and only travel to authorised locations – his place of work and accommodation – for 14 days following his arrival.

However, mother-of-two Jessica revealed she had met McLaughlan on September 19 and again on September 25 – both within 14 days of his arrival on the island.

McLaughlan hit the headlines earlier this month when he embarked on a treacherous 25-mile jet ski journey across the Irish Sea on December 11 to see Jessica.

He set off on a four-and-a-half hour trip to visit her despite never having ridden a water scooter before and being unable to swim.

A court heard McLaughlan had saved up to buy the jet ski and towed it 70 miles from his home in Irvine, North Ayrshire to a beach on the Isle of Whithorn.

He had expected the 25-mile trip to take 40 minutes but due to bad weather it took him four-and-a-half-hours.

There was just ten minutes of fuel left in the tank when he arrived in Ramsey harbour, a police source said.

Speaking previously about his endeavours, Jessica, a healthcare worker, had nothing but praise for her partner.

She said: “I’ve had messages from all over the world. People have said, ‘What he did is heroic. You should marry that man.’

“If he asks me, I’ll say yes. It’s definitely a story to tell our grandkids.”