A group of five welders who failed to self-isolate on the Isle of Man have been jailed for two weeks for flouting the island's tough coronavirus restrictions by nipping to a Tesco to buy booze.
The men should have kept themselves isolated for 14 days in an effort to prevent a resurgence of cases on the island - but flouted the rules by buying alcohol.
A court heard how the group, aged between 18 and 62, arrived on the island by ferry from Heysham, Lancashire, on Tuesday.
The court heard they were due to be doing two days' maintenance work on the Manx Electric Railway for Haigh Rail.
But instead of going straight from the port to their accommodation, the group went to a Tesco store to buy alcohol, it was heard.
They were wearing masks - but aroused suspicion after engaging in conversation with a local, who heard one say, "I've just got off the boat."
The incident was reported to a Tesco staff member and the men were arrested by police later that night.
All five defendants, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with Covid-19 restrictions under the Emergency Powers Act.
Appearing before magistrates via video link today they were each jailed for 14 days - the amount of time they should have self-isolated for.
Those jailed are Luke Kevin Fletcher, 22, Jack Michael Anthony Smith, 18, Robbie Rhodes, 18, Michael Stewart Smith, 43, and Christopher Leroy Lafayette, 62.
The Manx courts have now sent 12 people to prison for breaking isolation rules.
Lockdown on the Isle of Man ended on June 15 and there are currently no social distancing rules.
Pubs, restaurants, cinemas and gyms are open as normal.
A woman who stopped to get petrol when she arrived on the island and car's fuel light came on was jailed last week.
