Beaconsfield Grandfather Walks Free After Florida Pool Incident
A British grandfather has walked free from a US court after a disturbing incident in a Florida swimming pool where he was accused of trying to drown his girlfriend, who was previously engaged to his own son.
Mark Gibbon, 62, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was on holiday in Polk County, Florida, in August when the altercation with 33-year-old Jasmine Wyld occurred. The pair were staying in a rental home together.
A Heated Argument Spirals Into Violence
The situation escalated from a heated argument about their grandchildren into a physical confrontation in the backyard pool. According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the dispute happened at around 5:20 pm local time.
Sheriff Judd stated that Gibbon allegedly pushed and held Ms Wyld's head under water multiple times, preventing her from breathing. The attack only ceased when neighbouring holidaymakers intervened, announcing they had called the police.
In a particularly distressing detail, it was reported that Ms Wyld's nine-year-old daughter jumped into the pool in an attempt to stop the assault.
Plea Deal Secures Release
Gibbon was initially arrested and taken to Polk County Jail, facing serious charges of attempted second-degree murder and battery. However, the case took a significant turn this week.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Gibbon admitted to one count of battery as part of a plea deal. This agreement led to his release. The lighting engineer, who has previously worked with pop stars like Ed Sheeran, was ordered to pay $1,300 (approximately £980) in court costs and had his passport returned.
A complicating factor for prosecutors was that the victim, Jasmine Wyld, reportedly begged them to free Gibbon, describing him as a "good man" who "adores his family".
A Complex Family History
The relationship between Gibbon and Wyld adds a layer of complexity to the case. Jasmine Wyld was previously engaged to Gibbon's 34-year-old son, Alex, before the couple split in 2021.
This is not the first violent incident within the family. In February 2024, Alex Gibbon was handed a two-year prison sentence in the UK after driving a Porsche towards his father during an argument.
Following the pool incident, Sheriff Grady Judd remarked, "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."
With the plea deal accepted and costs paid, Mark Gibbon is now free to return to the UK.
