Police Bodycam Footage Exposes Horrific 25-Year Slavery Ordeal in Tewkesbury
Disturbing police bodycam footage has laid bare the filthy, prison-like room where a vulnerable woman was kept as a domestic slave for a quarter of a century by a mother-of-ten known as 'The Witch'. The harrowing video evidence, presented at Gloucester Crown Court, reveals the true extent of the squalor endured by the victim, referred to as 'K', during her decades-long captivity.
A Weekend Stay That Became a Lifetime of Torment
What began as a supposed weekend stay in 1996 spiralled into what the prosecution described as a 'Dickensian' campaign of abuse spanning over two decades. Amanda Wixon, 56, initially agreed to take the 14-year-old into her Tewkesbury council house when the girl's parents, described as extended family, were experiencing difficulties. This short-term arrangement would become a nightmare of control, violence, and deprivation that lasted until 2021.
The victim was subjected to regular physical assaults, including being punched, kicked, thrown down stairs, and struck with a broom - an attack that caused her to lose multiple teeth. In one particularly cruel incident, Wixon pushed the victim's head into a toilet while pulling the chain. The captive was denied basic human dignities: she was forbidden from helping herself to food, using a kettle, or washing regularly, receiving only leftovers once daily.
The Squalid 'Prison Cell' Revealed
The 42-second police bodycam clip presented to the court showed the damp, undecorated bedroom that served as the victim's only refuge during her ordeal. The footage revealed a dirty mattress with filthy bedding, unpainted walls, and overwhelming neglect. Officers described the room as resembling a prison cell, with the victim appearing thin, timid, unwashed, and fearful when discovered.
In a heartbreaking discovery, police found a gut-wrenching note with scribbled phone numbers hidden beneath the victim's pillow - a silent cry for help that went unanswered for years. One officer told The Sun: 'She smelt heavily of body odour, even from two metres away. She was malnourished, timid and frightened.' The victim revealed she hadn't bathed for over a year before her rescue.
A Life Controlled and Hidden From Society
The court heard how Wixon exercised complete control over her victim, rarely allowing her to leave the two homes where she was held captive over 25 years. The victim was required to ask for food, denied washing facilities and medical care, and forced to clean extensively - often on her hands and knees. She was made to care for Wixon's children and perform household chores while other children in the home were exempt from such duties.
Prosecutor Samuel 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.' Medical evidence revealed the victim had no dental or medical records as an adult and hadn't seen a doctor in two decades, effectively disappearing from society.
The Eventual Escape and Recovery
The reign of terror finally ended in 2021 when the courageous victim used a secretly hidden phone to contact a family member for help. When police arrived at Wixon's address, they found the victim - now a woman in her 40s - bruised and toothless, sleeping in the mouldy bedroom. Following her rescue, the victim initially suffered trauma symptoms and nightmares about the abuse.
However, social workers report significant progress in her recovery. She has undertaken English and Maths classes at college, regularly attends football matches, and has regained physical health. After receiving dentures, she became highly emotional at seeing herself with teeth for the first time in years. A doctor noted large calluses on both ankles from years of cleaning floors on her knees.
Neighbourhood Reactions and Trial Outcome
Neighbours described Wixon as a 'controlling woman' and 'total con-woman' who was addicted to scratch cards and on 'every benefit going'. Some residents were unaware the victim existed until Wixon's arrest, while others reported seeing her being humiliated in the garden or sitting alone at windows. One neighbour described the victim as resembling 'something out of a concentration camp'.
Wixon was found guilty of two counts of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, one count of false imprisonment, and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. She showed no remorse as she left court, responding to questions about apologising to her victim with: 'Why would I say sorry for something I never did?'
Judge Ian Lawrie KC granted conditional bail ahead of a sentencing hearing in March but told Wixon a jail term was 'a certainty'. The case has shocked the Tewkesbury community and highlighted issues of modern slavery occurring in plain sight within British communities.
