Gloucestershire Woman Held Hostage and Forced into Slavery for 25 Years

A harrowing case unfolded at Gloucester Crown Court, where a woman in her mid-40s revealed she was held captive and forced to work as a “house slave” by Amanda Wixon, a 56-year-old mother of ten, for over 25 years. The victim, who moved into Wixon’s overcrowded and squalid home in the Priors Park area of Tewkesbury at age 16 in 1995, endured years of brutal abuse.

During this time, the woman suffered regular physical assaults, including beatings with a broom handle that resulted in her losing teeth. She was subjected to cruel acts such as having washing-up liquid squirted down her throat, bleach thrown on her face, and her head shaved against her will. Her food was severely restricted, and she was forced to live on scraps, unable to leave the house or wash openly, resorting to washing herself in secret at night.

The family home was described as overcrowded and filthy, with moldy walls, peeling plaster, and rubbish in the garden. Despite social services’ involvement in the late 1990s, no contact or intervention was recorded for over two decades. The victim had no medical or dental records and had not seen a doctor in 20 years.

When police responded to a report in March 2021 made by one of Wixon’s sons, they found the woman’s room resembling a prison cell. She expressed fear for her safety, stating she had not washed in years and was regularly hit by Wixon.

The court heard testimony about the victim’s poor health, including scarring, calluses from relentless cleaning on her knees and hands, and a body mass index near underweight. Neighbors described her as emaciated with a shaved head and recalled witnessing the abuse. One described her appearance as akin to someone from a concentration camp.

Since her rescue, the woman now lives with a foster family, attends college, and has even been on holiday abroad. However, she continues to suffer nightmares and an obsessive urge to clean.

Amanda Wixon denied all charges, attributing accusations to falsehoods, and claimed that the conditions in the home, including neglected hygiene and schooling, were consistent for all children in the family. She rejected the allegations of violence, including the assault that led to the woman’s shaved head.

The jury found Wixon guilty of several charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm and forced labor. She was granted conditional bail pending sentencing, scheduled for March 12.

Community members expressed shock and anger at the case, with a former neighbor describing Wixon as deserving of imprisonment and condemning the horrific conditions endured by the victim.