A neighbour from Tewkesbury has described her shock and horror upon learning the truth behind the harrowing captivity of a vulnerable woman subjected to forced domestic slavery for over two decades by Amanda Wixon. Kiran Atwal, who grew up next door, recalled seeing the victim as a child but had no idea of the abuse endured behind closed doors.
The victim, taken in by 56-year-old Wixon as a teenager with learning difficulties through family connections, was held in degrading, squalid conditions from 1996 until her rescue in 2021. Wixon subjected her to severe neglect, denying food, healthcare, and basic freedom, while regularly inflicting brutal physical punishments.
“At first, as kids, we just didn’t grasp what was happening. But as we got older, the truth was sickening,” Ms. Atwal said. She described how, in later years, the victim disappeared from view entirely, living in appalling conditions unnoticed by the community.
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The victim was forced into relentless domestic servitude—spending hours daily on her knees scrubbing floors, serving meals under threat of violence, and suffering beatings for failing to complete chores. She reported horrific treatment including strangulation, being submerged in a toilet, chemical burns from cleaning fluids, and brutal assaults causing tooth loss.
The house’s neglected state mirrored the victim’s plight, with filthy bedding, mouldy walls, and no lighting captured on police body cams. Health professionals noted her malnourishment, injuries, and scars consistent with the abuse detailed.
Despite neighbours raising concerns and contacting social services—most recently in 2019—intervention failed to free the victim until she secretly called for help from a trusted acquaintance in March 2021. Police quickly removed her and launched a thorough investigation.
Amanda Wixon was convicted at Gloucester Crown Court of modern-day slavery offenses including forced labor, false imprisonment, and assault. While she remains on bail pending sentencing on March 12, Ms. Atwal expressed hope justice will prevail: “She deserves to rot in prison.”
The victim, now safe, is reportedly thriving—embracing newfound freedom and opportunities to learn and rebuild her life.
Gloucestershire County Council confirmed their Adult Social Care team has been supporting the victim since authorities became aware of the case in 2021.