A British grandfather accused of attempting to drown his former daughter-in-law turned girlfriend in a pool has been released without charges. Mark Gibbon, hailing from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was on vacation in the Polk County area of Florida, USA, in August when he was apprehended on suspicion of trying to murder his girlfriend, Jasmine Wyld, aged 33. He was subsequently charged with a lesser offense of battery by strangulation.
During their stay at a rental home, Gibbon and Wyld, who is now his partner, engaged in a heated argument about his will that escalated, prompting nearby vacationers to alert the authorities, leading to Gibbon’s arrest.
As part of a plea agreement made earlier in the month, the 62-year-old confessed to a single count of battery, resulting in his release. Gibbon, a lighting engineer known for his work with various celebrities, including Ed Sheeran, also paid $1,300 (£980) in court fees and had his passport returned to him.
The legal proceedings against Gibbon became complex after Wyld implored Florida prosecutors to release him, describing him as a “good man” who is devoted to his family.
Wyld was previously engaged to Gibbon’s son Alex, who was sentenced to two years in prison in the UK in 2024 for driving a Porsche toward his father during an argument.
Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County stated that in August, officers responded to reports of a disturbance at a backyard pool around 5:20 pm local time. Allegedly, Gibbon repeatedly pushed Wyld’s head underwater, preventing her from breathing, until bystanders intervened by calling the authorities, with Wyld’s nine-year-old daughter also attempting to stop the incident by jumping into the pool.
Following the altercation, Gibbon was arrested and taken to Polk County Jail, where he faced charges of attempted second-degree murder and battery. Sheriff Judd emphasized the importance of visitors behaving appropriately while in Polk County, whether they are tourists or residents.