Victim of Tewkesbury Woman’s Decades-Long Abuse Shares Heartbreaking Statement

A woman subjected to modern-day slavery by a Gloucestershire mother has courageously shared her harrowing experience after enduring nearly 25 years of captivity and abuse.

Amanda Wixon, 56, from Tewkesbury, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court, where she faced sentencing for multiple offences connected to the prolonged imprisonment and exploitation of her victim. The victim, held forcibly in Wixon’s home in the Priors Park area since 1996—beginning at just 16 years old—was subjected to forced labor, physical abuse, deprivation of food and medical care, and complete loss of freedom.

Following a trial, Wixon was found guilty of two counts of requiring forced or compulsory labor, one count of false imprisonment, and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Despite her conviction, Wixon maintained her innocence, dismissing the verdict as “rubbish.”

At sentencing, prosecutor Sam Jones read a poignant letter from the victim, who remains anonymous for her protection. In the letter, she detailed a quarter-century spent “in fear, control and abuse,” feeling as though her life, freedom, and voice held no value. She revealed that although the abuser was convicted, the psychological scars remain vivid.

Now living with a supportive family, the victim expressed gratitude for their kindness and patience, which aids her gradual recovery and restoration of safety. She acknowledged the irreversible loss of 25 years but implored the court to impose a sentence that reflects the grave and enduring damage inflicted by Wixon’s actions.

The case unveiled appalling conditions within the home, likened by witnesses to a prison cell, highlighting the severity of the victim’s suffering.

Wixon’s sentencing marks a critical moment of justice, acknowledging the profound impact of her crimes and offering a measure of closure to a victim reclaiming her life after unimaginable torment.