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15th December 2020
03:08pm GMT

The Isle of Man TT race passes through Ramsey. (Photo: Getty)[/caption]
McLaughlan told the court he had previously been given permission to enter the Isle of Man in September to carry out some work as a roofer. After self-isolating for 14 days, he said he then met his girlfriend.
He made a number of subsequent attempts to legally return to the Isle of Man, but all were rejected. McLaughlan then took matters into his own hands, by jumping on a jet ski for the first time.
After having his applications to return rejected, the court heard how McLaughlan then bought the jet ski. He then embarked on the journey, which took about 40 minutes to cross the Irish Sea.
He arrived in Ramsey at 1pm, and, displaying energy The Proclaimers would be proud of, then walked around 15 miles to his girlfriend's home in Douglas.
She had been working on the island for a short while. The next day, police arrived at her address, but McLaughlan said he lived there too.
Later that day, the pair went to two packed nightclubs on the island, which the court heard was breaking Covid-19 restrictions.
Police arrested him on Sunday after verifying his identity.
A lawyer for McLaughlan said the 28-year-old was suffering from depression after not being able to see his girlfriend.Explore more on these topics: