A wealthy British grandfather has walked free from court after allegedly attempting to drown his daughter-in-law-turned-girlfriend during a heated argument about his will while on holiday in Florida.
Poolside Attack Turns Holiday Nightmare
Mark Gibbon, 62, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, faced attempted murder charges after allegedly pushing 33-year-old Jasmine Wyld's head underwater multiple times during a drunken row at a luxury resort. The shocking incident occurred on August 3rd, with court documents revealing Wyld "advised that she could not breathe and believed that she was going to drown".
The lighting engineer, who has worked on music videos for celebrities including Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, only stopped the alleged attack when neighbouring holidaymakers threatened to call police. Tragically, Wyld's nine-year-old daughter jumped into the pool in a desperate attempt to save her mother during the disturbance.
Bizarre Court Twist and Family Fallout
In a surprising development, Wyld begged prosecutors to release Gibbon, describing him as a "good man" who "adores his family" and stating she had "complete trust in him". The attempted murder charge was subsequently downgraded to battery by strangulation as part of a plea deal.
Gibbon admitted to one count of battery and was ordered to pay $1,308.68 (£992) in costs while avoiding prison time. Prosecutors from Polk County confirmed the victim had been consulted and felt Gibbon had "been punished enough", wanting him allowed to return to England and maintain contact with her and her daughter.
Complex Family History Revealed
The unusual relationship has caused significant turmoil within the family. Wyld was previously engaged to Gibbon's 34-year-old son, Alex, with whom she shares two children. The couple separated in 2021, after which she began a relationship with her former father-in-law.
Family tensions escalated dramatically when Alex was sentenced to two years in prison in February 2024 for driving an £80,000 Porsche towards his father during a heated argument. He pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and harassment without violence.
According to sources close to the family, Alex had previously discovered Wyld in his father's bed several years earlier, resulting in a "massive row". The insider revealed Alex had found his father's home empty while returning from working away and discovered Wyld's car parked outside, leading to the shocking discovery upstairs.
Neighbours in Beaconsfield expressed surprise at the allegations, describing Gibbon as a "lovely guy" who dotes on his grandchildren. The wealthy engineer lives alone in an £800,000 semi-detached property after splitting from his wife, with Wyld reportedly spending increasing amounts of time there with her children.
The couple have flaunted their controversial relationship through regular holidays together, including trips to Florida and Budapest in 2023, while posting couple-like photographs on social media. Sources suggest the poolside argument may have been triggered by Wyld's dissatisfaction about not being named in Gibbon's will.
Following the incident, Wyld confirmed that social services in the UK have made contact regarding the case, stating she expects ongoing involvement with authorities. The hairdresser told the court the international attention has made the situation "public knowledge to pretty much the entire world".
