Mother Sentenced to 13 Years for Holding Woman as Slave for 25 Years in Squalid Home
Amanda Wixon, a 56-year-old mother of ten, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for subjecting a woman to a horrific 25-year ordeal of modern slavery. The victim, identified only as "K," was forced into captivity in Wixon's home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, enduring brutal abuse and living in deplorable conditions.
Decades of Abuse and Deprivation Uncovered
Wixon forced the victim, who has learning difficulties and was known to her since childhood, to shave her hair, beat her with objects like a broom handle—knocking out her teeth—and made her survive on mere scraps of food. The victim was locked inside the house, deprived of basic hygiene, health, and dental care, and subjected to acts such as having washing-up liquid squirted down her throat and bleach splashed on her face.
Police described the victim's bedroom as resembling a prison cell, with a basic bed covered in filthy sheets, bare plaster walls marred by mould, and no light bulb. Calluses on her ankles corroborated her account of spending hours on her knees sweeping floors.
Financial Exploitation and Legal Proceedings
Over the years, Wixon fraudulently claimed more than £100,000 in benefits intended for the victim, depositing the funds into her own bank account. Following a tip-off from one of Wixon's sons in March 2021, authorities intervened, leading to her conviction in January at Gloucester Crown Court.
Wixon was found guilty of modern-day slavery offences, including two counts of requiring forced labour, one count of false imprisonment, and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. She was acquitted of an additional assault charge.
Victim's Trauma and Path to Recovery
In a heartfelt statement read in court, the victim expressed, "For 25 years, I lived in fear, control, and abuse. I was treated as though my life, my freedom, and my voice did not matter." Doctors noted she was malnourished upon rescue, with scarring around her mouth likely from contact with cleaning fluids.
Now living with a foster family, the victim attends college and has enjoyed holidays abroad. Her foster mother described the challenges of helping her adjust, noting initial resistance to affection but gradual progress toward healing. However, psychologists warn she may suffer severe psychological trauma for life.
Authorities Condemn the Crime
Judge Ian Lawrie KC highlighted the "Dickensian quality" of the case, emphasizing Wixon's lack of remorse and the persistent trauma inflicted. Detective Chief Inspector Dave Shore-Nye stated that no prison sentence could fully reflect the pain suffered or reclaim the stolen decades.
Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher called it one of the worst cases he has ever seen, citing the nearly 25 years of suffering and Wixon's continued denial of wrongdoing. Authorities are collaborating with the Department for Work and Pensions to assess the full extent of the benefit fraud.
