Dale McLaughlan is in hot water with Manx authorities after braving 40km of cold water and quarantine rules to rejoin his girlfriend on the Isle of Man.
McLaughlan, a roofer, had been working on the island last fall, and fell in love with a local woman. After returning to Scotland, he applied for permission, but his requests were denied. He then bought a jet ski, and determined to return; what he thought would be a 40-minute trip took four hours.
After arriving, he went out for a night on the town with his girlfriend, but was spotted and arrested. At first, he claimed to have been living at her home. The girlfriend told police and a court she thought he had been living on the island the whole time and did not realize he was breaking quarantine. He was sentenced to a month in jail.
The Isle of Man is an independent state, ruled since the 13th century by either English or Scottish monarchs; Queen Elizabeth is the present Lord of Mann, but the island has never been part of England or the United Kingdom.
A rather romantic jesture, I think.
Seems the thought police have no sense of adventure anymore.