A British grandfather who was accused of trying to drown his son's former fiancée in a Florida resort swimming pool has been released from a central Florida jail on bail and ordered to wear an electronic monitor, authorities and court records show.
Mark Gibbon, 62, was freed after posting $26,000 (about £19,200) bail on Friday. A judge also ordered him to surrender his United Kingdom passport and to be fitted with an electronic ankle monitor as conditions of his release, according to court filings obtained by The Mail on Sunday.
Police reports say the alleged incident occurred last month at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, a luxury development near Orlando. The reports allege that Gibbon pushed the head of 33-year-old Jasmine Wyld, identified in charging documents as the mother of his two grandchildren, under water multiple times during a drunken dispute over his will. The reports say Wyld suffered scratches and bruises and that a nine-year-old child intervened to stop the altercation.
Gibbon was initially charged with second-degree attempted murder, but that charge was downgraded at a recent court hearing to a charge of battery by strangulation, court records show. Prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The police report and the charging documents describe the events as alleged; Gibbon has not been convicted of a crime.
According to the court filings, Gibbon, who lives in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, met the bail conditions and was released pending further proceedings. The documents do not list a future court date. The Mail on Sunday reported that Gibbon is a lighting engineer who has worked on projects with musicians including Ed Sheeran.
Authorities in Davenport, Florida, booked Gibbon on the felony strangulation charge after investigating the poolside incident. The records reviewed by reporters indicate law enforcement officers took statements from the alleged victim and witnesses and documented the injuries described in the charging paperwork.
The use of electronic monitoring and the surrender of passports are common conditions in U.S. jurisdictions when defendants face allegations and authorities cite potential flight risk. Defence attorneys may argue for reduced restrictions on travel and monitoring as a case proceeds; prosecutors may oppose such requests by citing the seriousness of the alleged conduct and any factors that could increase risk of flight.
Officers have not publicly disclosed additional investigative steps or whether any other charges could be filed. The alleged victim's representatives did not respond to requests for comment through media channels that published the court records.
Gibbon's release comes amid continuing proceedings in Florida courts. Under state law, defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. The records show the criminal matter remains active and that the court placed conditions on Gibbon's release intended to ensure his appearance at future hearings and to mitigate any perceived risk.
Local prosecutors will determine whether to proceed to trial on the reduced charge or to seek further changes based on the ongoing investigation and any additional evidence obtained by law enforcement.