Girlfriend of jet ski Romeo, 28, jailed for crossing Irish Sea to see her in lockdown says they’ll marry after release

he was a "nice lad" but was "thick as a brick" after he assumed the 25-mile expedition would take just 40 minutes.

After he finally arrived on shore, he had to walk from Ramsey to Douglas, before he was able to see his sweetheart.

The couple met in September, when he was legally working on the island before being separated by lockdown rules.

The roofer came up with the plan after his latest work permit was rejected, forcing him to think of another way to see his beau.

But not everyone was as impressed with his efforts, as his bemused mother said: "He could have killed himself!

"I just don't know why he did it. He'll be missing his kids over Christmas."

He told police his girlfriends address was his own, before the pair headed off to two busy clubs.

Following ID checks, he was nicked the next day.

The Isle of Man has strict border rules in regard to Covid, which seem to have paid off as the population of 85,000 has been able to maintain low levels of the virus.

Sentencing him at the island’s Douglas Courthouse, Deputy High Bailiff Christopher Arrowsmith said he made a “deliberate and intentional attempt to circumnavigate” the border restrictions.

He also stressed that he put himself “at very real risk” of harm with the crossing.

The current Level 4 system on the Isle of Man allows residents to make non-essential journeys beyond the island, but requires them to self-isolate for 14 days upon return.

Non-residents must complete a registration form and be granted an entry certificate to be allowed in.

There have been just 373 confirmed coronavirus cases there since March, with just four current cases - none of who are in hospital.