This is the moment a lovesick roofer from Scotland arrived in the island by jet ski last week to see his girlfriend.

His trip was reported on page one of his week’s Isle of Man Examiner.

Since then Dale McLaughlan, aged 28, has hit the headlines across the world after being jailed for four weeks for breaching the island’s emergency Covid-19 regulations after he was discovered to be here without permission.

This picture and the one on the front page now form part of the media storm whipped up by the initial story. They were taken by Noel Corlett as the Ayrshire man arrived in Ramsey harbour on Friday.

Television, radio and newspapers outlets across the world inundated Isle of Man Newspapers’ newsroom for more information.

They have now covered the curious tale of the jetski Romeo, which has now been featured in all the major UK press, Bild in Germany, the New York Times, on Channel 9 in Australia, Norwegian television, BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine’s Show and has even garnered a mention by US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.

McLaughlan’s actions have split opinion with it being described as a ’touching romantic gesture’ by some and ’incredibly reckless’ by others.

Some have also questioned how Mr McLaughlan, who only purchased the jetski the day prior to the trip, could successfully complete such an arduous journey across the Irish Sea in December with little or no experience of operating such a craft.