Warning: This article contains discussion of potential domestic violence which some readers may find distressing.
The British man accused of trying to drown his son’s ex-fiancée has walked free.
Mark Gibbon was dating his former daughter-in-law, Jasmine Wyld, when he allegedly held her head underwater at their rental home near Disney World, Florida, in August.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, the 62-year-old from Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire was accused of pushing the mother of his two grandchildren ‘under the water and held her down multiple times’.
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Gibbon was arrested on 3 August after holidaymakers called the police. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that the man was taken to the jail and later charged with attempted second-degree murder and battery of the 33-year-old.
However, while the sheriff warned that Gibbon might be spending longer in the US state ‘than he had anticipated’, he has now walked free.
The couple had apparently been arguing about ‘the stipulations of his will’ when the alleged incident occurred.
The Sheriff’s Office added at the time: “The victim’s nine-year-old daughter jumped into the pool in an attempt to stop Gibbon from drowning her mother.”
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And Judd said in a statement: “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.
“Because Mr Gibbon couldn’t control his anger, he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.”
Gibbon’s charge was later downgraded to battery by strangulation and earlier this month, he admitted to one count of battery under a plea deal. This allowed the lighting technician to walk free.
It’s reported that the case against him had doubt cast over it when Wyld begged for him to be released and claimed that he ‘adores his family’ and is really a ‘good man’.
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She said: “I have complete trust in him. He’s my best friend.”
Prosecutors from Polk County told the Daily Mail in a statement: “The defendant in this case was charged with battery for repeatedly dunking the victim’s head below water in a swimming pool during an argument.
“The victim was consulted regarding the resolution of this case. The victim informed our office that she felt the defendant had been punished enough and she desired that he be allowed to return to England and have contact with her and her daughter.
“She had no fear of him. The defendant completed an anger management course and was adjudicated guilty of battery.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7, or via live chat, available 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday.
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Jess Battison