The foster carer of a woman held captive and abused for 25 years by Amanda Wixon is calling for a full inquiry into how the victim was overlooked by authorities for so long.
Amanda Wixon, 56, a mother of ten from Tewkesbury, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after brutally abusing the woman, who has a learning disability. The victim moved into Wixon’s home at age 16 in 1995 and endured years of torture before finally escaping in 2021.
The abuse was horrific: she was regularly beaten with a broom handle to the point of losing teeth, forced to swallow washing-up liquid, had bleach splashed on her face, and her head was shaved forcibly on multiple occasions. Her food was severely restricted, leaving her to survive on scraps. Confined within the house, she could only wash discreetly at night.
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Now in the care of a loving foster family, the victim—now in her mid-40s—describes her foster carers as “wonderful” for helping her slowly rebuild a life stolen by years of cruelty. During Wixon’s sentencing hearing on March 12, the victim expressed profound loss, stating, “Nothing can give me back the 25 years I lost.” She urged the court to deliver a sentence that reflects the deep and lasting harm caused.
The foster mother is demanding answers on how such prolonged abuse went unnoticed. She said, “It’s appalling. There should be an inquiry into how this slipped through the cracks. Authorities need to be more vigilant to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent such horrors from recurring.”
She also expressed concern over the victim’s placement after rescue, which she described as another traumatic experience. “Even after removal, the victim was placed somewhere unsafe, causing further trauma. That should never have happened,” she added.
Wixon was convicted by a jury of false imprisonment, two counts of forced or compulsory labour, and four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, though acquitted on one assault charge.
Gloucestershire County Council issued a statement praising the victim’s bravery and confirming a review will be conducted to improve detection and prevention of abuse cases. The council encouraged anyone suspecting trafficking, abuse, or modern slavery to contact the police or council helpline.
The foster mother revealed that the victim is still coming to terms with the full extent of her abuse, remaining fearful of Wixon. Recently, an accidental encounter in a supermarket triggered a panic attack, with the victim referring to Wixon as “The Witch” due to her terror.
Court records reveal that social services had brief contact with the Wixon family in the late 1990s but no further intervention. The victim had reportedly tried to seek help but was dismissed, a failure the foster mother insists allowed the abuse to continue unchecked for decades.
“We need changes to ensure early intervention. If someone had acted then, the victim might have been saved years ago,” the foster mother concluded.