In a shocking case that has emerged from Gloucestershire, a woman who subjected another to a quarter-century of captivity and abuse has been convicted on multiple serious charges. Amanda Wixon, aged 56, faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence after a jury found her guilty of offences including compulsory labour, false imprisonment, and assault.
Decades of Torment in Squalid Conditions
The victim, now in her mid-40s, was just 16 years old when she moved into Wixon's overcrowded home in the Priors Park area of Tewkesbury back in 1995. What followed was 25 years of systematic abuse and confinement in what police described as "Dickensian" conditions. The family home was characterised by mould on the walls, plaster hanging off, and rubbish accumulating in the back garden.
Systematic Abuse and Deprivation
The court heard harrowing details of the victim's ordeal. She was regularly beaten, sometimes with a broom handle, and subjected to cruel punishments including having washing-up liquid squirted down her throat and bleach splashed on her face. Her food was severely limited, she was prevented from leaving the house, and forced to wash secretly at night.
Prosecutor Sam Jones told the jury: "She was kept in and prevented from leaving the address and she was assaulted and hit many, many times and forced to work with the threats of violence. She had been denied food and the ability to wash over many years."
No Remorse from the Abuser
Outside Gloucester Crown Court, Wixon showed complete lack of remorse for her actions. When asked what she had to say to her victim, she replied bluntly: "Not a lot." Questioned about whether she felt sorry, she responded: "No. I never done it."
When confronted with the possibility of being labelled a "monster," Wixon retorted: "Say what you think." Even after being informed she could face up to ten years in prison, she responded dismissively: "I know that. Do you think I am stupid? Do you think I don't know that?"
Victim's Living Conditions Described as Prison Cell
Police officers who attended the property in March 2021, responding to a report from one of Wixon's sons, described the victim's bedroom as resembling a "prison cell." Other bedrooms in the house were similarly untidy and dirty. The victim told officers: "I don't want to be here. I don't feel safe. Mandy hits me all the time. I don't like it. I haven't washed for years. She doesn't let me."
Questions Raised About Social Services Involvement
The court heard that social services had been involved with the family in the late 1990s, but there were no records of any contact since that period. Prosecutor Sam Jones noted: "The fact remains that nothing was done by social services." Alarmingly, there were no medical or dental records for the victim, who hadn't seen a doctor in two decades.
Defence Claims of "Fantasy and Lies"
Edward Hollingsworth, defending Wixon, described the prosecution case as a "tale of fantasy and lies" and suggested there was a "child-like fantasy" to the woman's allegations. He argued: "The life of Amanda Wixon was much more complicated and nuanced. Her other children were not vaccinated, not attending school, and had rotting teeth and head lice."
Hollingsworth claimed that all family members lived in similarly squalid conditions, stating: "The truth is, that just like Mandy and others in the family, their teeth rotted out by neglect, and has been inflated to a story of violent abuse. Negligent but not the systematic abuse that has been alleged."
Conviction and Sentencing
The jury acquitted Wixon of one assault charge but found her guilty of the remaining six charges. Judge Ian Lawrie KC remarked on the "Dickensian quality" to the story, particularly noting that the victim, who has learning difficulties, had left her own "dysfunctional family" only to enter another abusive situation.
Wixon has been released on conditional bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, where she faces the prospect of a substantial prison term for her crimes.
