A mother is facing imprisonment for confining a woman in appalling conditions at her residence for 25 years.
In 1997, Amanda Wixon, 56, of Tewkesbury, took in the victim, who was her friend’s daughter. The victim was held captive in Wixon’s home until March 2021 when Wixon’s son contacted the authorities.
Wixon was convicted of multiple charges, including forced labor, false imprisonment, and assault, by a jury at Gloucester Crown Court.
The court learned that the woman was confined for over two decades, with Wixon locking all exits. Additionally, she was coerced into caring for Wixon’s children and carrying out household chores.
The victim, who was just 16 years old and in secondary school when she was taken in, documented her suffering through voice notes on a hidden phone. She endured unsanitary living conditions, physical abuse, and forced labor at the hands of Wixon.
Upon discovery, the victim, now in her 40s, was found with injuries and missing teeth, a result of Wixon’s physical assaults. She was forced to reside in a dilapidated room resembling a prison cell.
The woman appeared neglected and fearful in footage captured by officers, revealing that she had not bathed in over a year.
Wixon, emotionless upon hearing the verdict, was convicted of assault causing bodily harm, false imprisonment, and forced labor. One assault charge was dropped, but she was found guilty of the others.
Judge Ian Lawrie KC stated that a prison sentence was inevitable as he granted Wixon conditional bail pending her sentencing in March.
The family home in Tewkesbury was described as overcrowded, unsanitary, and in disrepair, with evidence of neglect.
The prosecution highlighted the victim’s prolonged mistreatment, emphasizing the lack of intervention from social services or medical professionals over the years.
Since her rescue, the victim has been placed with a foster family, pursuing education and enjoying leisure activities. She continues to struggle with the trauma of her past ordeal.
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