Victim freed after 20 years of abuse as court sentences Amanda Wixon

A woman in Gloucestershire, England, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after a court found her guilty of modern-day slavery, false imprisonment, and assault for keeping a vulnerable woman captive for more than two decades.

Amanda Wixon, 56, forced the victim, who has learning difficulties and is now in her mid-40s, to perform manual labor while routinely depriving her of food, healthcare, and basic human dignity at Wixon’s Tewkesbury home. 

The abuse continued from 1997 until the victim’s rescue in March 2021.

During the 13-day trial at Gloucestershire Crown Court, prosecutors detailed horrifying acts, including having cleaning fluids splashed on her, being shaved against her will, and surviving on scraps of food. 

Wixon also claimed benefits worth over £100,000 [$130,000] on behalf of the victim during her captivity.

Judge Ian Lawrie KC condemned Wixon’s actions in court: “By calculation and persistence, you submitted [the victim] to 20 years of domestic servitude accompanied by emotional and physical bullying. 

You effectively crushed her spirit, and it suited you to do so.”

The victim, who is now living with a foster family, has been attending college and receiving therapy. 

In a statement, she said: “Being rescued by the police in 2021 saved me, but the damage did not stop that day, and I am struggling to heal.” She described ongoing flashbacks and nightmares, explaining that she still feels unsafe in spaces linked to her captivity.

Detective Constable Emma Jackson of Gloucestershire Police highlighted Wixon’s cruelty and lack of remorse: “Instead of giving the victim a loving home, she exploited, neglected, and abused her. She carried out horrendous acts intended to humiliate and degrade the victim.”

The rescue was prompted when one of Wixon’s sons raised concerns about the woman’s welfare in 2021. 

Police discovered the victim in a filthy, confined room, malnourished and suffering from untreated infections.

Detective Chief Inspector David Shore-Nye emphasized the broader lesson from the case: “This serves as a reminder of the vulnerability that can exist behind closed doors. We must remain vigilant and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”