Woman Endured 25 Years of Horrific Abuse as Modern-Day Slave
Amanda Wixon, 56, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for subjecting a vulnerable woman to a quarter-century of brutal enslavement. The victim, who has a learning disability and is now in her mid-40s, was just 16 when she moved into Wixon's home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire in 1995, remaining there until her rescue in 2021.
Dickensian Conditions and Systematic Abuse
During what prosecutors described as a "Dickensian" story of cruelty, the woman suffered regular beatings with a broom handle, had her teeth knocked out, and endured bleach being splashed on her face. Washing-up liquid was forcibly squirted down her throat, and her head was repeatedly shaved against her will. She lived in filthy conditions described as a "prison cell" while being forced to perform domestic labour and care for Wixon's children.
Lasting Trauma and Supermarket Encounter
The victim's foster mother has revealed that the woman remains "petrified" of Wixon, whom she calls "The Witch." This terror was demonstrated recently when the victim accidentally encountered Wixon in a supermarket and became "hysterical" with fear.
"She was running around. It was horrible," the foster mother said. "She went absolutely mad in the supermarket when she saw her. She's really scared of her. She's petrified actually."
Victim's Heartbreaking Letter
The foster mother read a letter written by the victim that stated: "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. Although my abuser has now been found guilty, the trauma and the nightmares are something I still carry with me every day."
The letter continued: "I am now living with a wonderful family who show me kindness, patience and support. Their love is helping me slowly rebuild the life that was taken from me and begin to feel safe again. Nothing can give me back the 25 years I lost."
Systemic Failures and Calls for Inquiry
The foster mother has demanded an inquiry into how authorities failed to detect the abuse for more than two decades. Social services had been involved with the Wixon family in the late 1990s, but there were no records of further contact with any agency until the victim's rescue in 2021.
"I personally think it's appalling," the foster mother said. "There should be something done about it. I don't know how they let that slip. There needs to be a shake-up."
She added that even after rescue, the victim was placed in another unsafe environment, compounding her trauma. "I think it's disgusting, frankly. I don't think she should have been placed there at all."
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Recovery
Wixon was convicted at Gloucester Crown Court of:
- False imprisonment
- Two charges of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour
- Four charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
The victim, who now attends college and lives with a foster family, has little comprehension of the full extent of her abuse, according to her foster mother. "I don't think she realises the full extent of it, even though she was suffering," she explained.
The woman is receiving psychological therapy to help process her trauma. "I think she will be okay in time," the foster mother said. "But it's just going to take time. I'm going to be there to support her all the time, to tell her she's safe now."
The case has raised serious questions about safeguarding vulnerable adults and the need for improved monitoring systems to prevent similar atrocities from occurring undetected for decades.
