Mark Gibbon, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was on holiday in Florida when he reportedly tried to drown his girlfriend Jasmine Wyld, 33, who was previously engaged to his son
A British grandad who allegedly tried to drown his daughter-in-law turned girlfriend in a pool has reportedly walked free.
Mark Gibbon, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was holidaying in the Polk County region of Florida, US, when he was arrested on suspicion of attacking 33-year-old Jasmine Wyld in a swimming pool.
The 62-year-old had been staying in a rental home with Ms Wyld, who is his former daughter-in-law who later became his girlfriend. The pair are said to have got into a heated row about his grandchildren that spiralled out of control, resulting in neighbouring holidaymakers calling the police and Mr Gibbon being arrested.
He admitted to one count of battery under a plea deal earlier this month, the Daily Mail reports, securing his release. Gibbon, a lighting engineer who has worked with numerous popstars including Ed Sheeran in the past, also paid $1,300 (£980) in costs to a Florida court and was given back his passport.
The case against Gibbon is said to have become complicated after Ms Wyld begged prosecutors in Florida to free him, telling them he was a “good man” who “adores his family”.
Jasmine had been engaged to Gibbon’s 34-year-old son Alex before the couple split in 2021. In February 2024, Alex was handed a two-year prison sentence back in Britain after he drove a Porsche towards his dad during an argument.
In August, following the most recent incident involving the family, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said his officers had responded to reports of a disturbance in a back-yard swimming pool at around 5.20pm local time.
Gibbon allegedly pushed and held the victim’s head under water multiple times which prevented her from breathing, Mr Judd said.
He allegedly only stopped after holidaymakers next door said they had called the sheriff’s office, while the victim’s nine-year-old daughter jumped into the pool to try to stop the incident, the sheriff said.
Gibbon was arrested and taken to Polk County Jail before he was charged with attempted second-degree murder and battery, Mr Judd said.
He added: “It’s great that Polk County draws visitors from all across the world, but we expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us, just as we expect our lifelong residents to do the same.”
