Five welders from Yorkshire have today been jailed for 14 days each for failing to isolate immediately after arriving in the Isle of Man.

The key workers arrived in the island on the Ben-my-Chree from Heysham on September 29 but instead of going straight to their accommodation they went to Tesco to buy alcohol.

They were due to do maintenance work on the Manx Electric Railway employed by Haigh Rail.

The men wore masks in the store.

A member of the public reported the men to Tesco staff after asking one of the men about his mask and being told: ’I’ve just got off the boat.’

They were arrested on Tuesday evening.

Luke Kevin Fletcher, aged 22, of Arundel Street, Doncaster, Jack Michael Anthony Smith, aged 18, of Haigh Crescent, Doncaster, Robbie Rhodes, aged 18, also of Haigh Crescent, Michael Stewart Smith, aged 43, also of Haigh Crescent, and Christopher Leroy Lafayette, aged 62, of Tranmoor Court. Doncaster, all pleaded guilty to failing to comply with Covid-19 restrictions under the Emergency Powers Act.

They appeared in court today before magistrates via video link from police headquarters wearing face masks.

Jack Smith was represented by advocate James Peterson, Rhodes by Matthew Wilshaw, Fletcher by Peter Taylor, and Lafayette by Paul Rodgers, while Michael Smith chose to represent himself.

They were due to leave the island on tonight’s ferry (Thursday).