A woman in England has been found guilty of modern-day slavery offenses after keeping a vulnerable victim captive inside her home for more than two decades, according to authorities.
On Wednesday, Jan. 21, a jury at Gloucestershire Crown Court convicted Amanda Wixon, 56, on multiple charges, including two counts of forced or compulsory labor, one count of false imprisonment, and three counts of assault, according to a statement from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Prosecutors said the victim was held in captivity for over 20 years and was repeatedly beaten while being forced to clean Wixon’s home and prepare her children for school. During the trial, the court heard the victim had effectively been treated as a “house slave” for Wixon and her 10 children, according to reporting from Sky News.
Police later released disturbing images showing the cramped, filthy conditions where the victim was forced to live. In a separate statement, Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed Wixon had been found guilty following an extensive investigation by detectives.
Authorities said the victim, now in her 40s and described as having learning difficulties, moved into Wixon’s home in 1996 when she was just 16 years old, after Wixon claimed responsibility for her care. According to The Times, the teenager was never allowed to leave freely once inside the household.
For more than two decades, police said, Wixon kept the victim locked inside the home, deprived her of food, medical treatment, and dental care, and denied her access to money. Although Wixon claimed state benefits on the victim’s behalf for years — payments that went directly into her own bank account — the victim was forced to live in poverty and wear secondhand clothing.
Jurors were told the victim was forced to carry out domestic labor under constant threats of violence, often spending hours each day on her knees scrubbing and sweeping floors. She was not permitted to wash herself but was made to bathe Wixon’s children and prepare baths for Wixon herself. Meals were strictly limited, often consisting of scraps or leftovers, and the victim sometimes hid sweets to eat in secret when hunger became unbearable.
Police said threats were routinely carried out. The victim described being beaten regularly if chores were not completed. Over the years, she alleged Wixon strangled her, shoved her head into a toilet, and poured cleaning chemicals onto her face and down her throat. She was also stamped on, struck with a broom handle — causing her to lose her teeth — and forcibly shaved despite wanting to keep her hair long.
In one incident, when Wixon discovered the victim had been secretly given a cellphone, she allegedly struck her in the face with it, leaving her with a black eye, before smashing the phone with a hammer.
The abuse finally came to light on March 15, 2021, when the victim managed to use another hidden cellphone to call for help. Prosecutors said one of Wixon’s sons also contacted police that night out of concern for the victim’s wellbeing.
Officers arrived at the home shortly after 10:40 p.m. and found the victim frightened, severely malnourished, and visibly neglected. Medical professionals later documented scarring around her mouth consistent with chemical burns and calluses on her ankles linked to prolonged kneeling. A dentist confirmed she had endured years of untreated infections and abscesses that would have caused extreme pain.
Detective Constable Emma Jackson described the case as one of prolonged and appalling cruelty, saying Wixon exploited a highly vulnerable person instead of protecting her. She praised the victim’s courage in seeking help, noting that she is now safe and beginning to rebuild her life.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Laura Burgess said the victim was denied freedom, dignity, and basic autonomy for decades, calling her recovery a testament to extraordinary resilience.
Wixon has been released on bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12. She has denied the charges against her.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing abuse or exploitation, help is available through local authorities and support organizations.
Real Deal Team
She should be put on a chain gang!