A woman in Tewkesbury has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for keeping another woman as a “house slave” for 25 years in appalling conditions. Amanda Wixon, a mother of 10, was found guilty of charges including compulsory labor, false imprisonment, and assault. She had imprisoned her friend’s daughter in 1997 and subjected her to physical abuse and forced labor until she was rescued in March 2021.
During the trial at Gloucester Crown Court, it was revealed that Wixon had physically assaulted the victim, forced her to care for her children, and kept her confined in the house. The victim, who remains anonymous, shared in a note to the court the trauma and abuse she endured for decades, expressing gratitude for her new supportive family.
The victim was found living in unsanitary conditions, with injuries from beatings, and deprived of basic hygiene. Despite the defendant denying some charges, she was convicted on multiple counts of assault and imprisonment. The family home was described as overcrowded and squalid, with little regard for the victim’s well-being.
Social services had previous involvement with the family, but no recent records were found. The victim had not received medical attention for years, showing signs of malnutrition and physical abuse. Witnesses described her appearance as emaciated and bearing scars from the prolonged mistreatment.
Neighbors who witnessed the victim’s condition corroborated the abuse she suffered, highlighting the severity of the situation. The court emphasized the lasting impact of the crimes committed by Wixon and the urgent need for justice to be served.
