Gloucestershire Mother Found Guilty of Holding Woman Hostage for 25 Years
A 56-year-old mother of ten has been convicted of a shocking campaign of abuse after holding a vulnerable woman captive as a "house slave" for a quarter of a century.
Amanda Wixon, from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, was found guilty on Wednesday at Gloucester Crown Court. The jury convicted her of false imprisonment, forced labor, and assault.
The harrowing case revealed that Wixon took the victim a woman with learning disabilities into her home in 1997 when she was just 16 years old. What began as a temporary stay turned into a 25-year ordeal.
A "Dickensian" Ordeal
The court heard disturbing details of the victim's life in Wixon's squalid home in Priors Park. The victim was forced to sleep on a mattress in a room described by officers as a "prison cell," while the rest of the house was filled with mould and rubbish.
Prosecutors revealed that the woman was treated as a servant for Wixon and her ten children. She was fed scraps, forced to wash secretly at night, and subjected to brutal violence. In one instance, her teeth were knocked out with a broom handle. She was also forced to swallow washing-up liquid as punishment.
The Rescue
The victim's nightmare ended in March 2021 when police raided the property following a tip-off from one of Wixon’s own sons. Officers found the victim living in fear, telling them, "I don't want to be here. I don't feel safe. Mandy hits me all the time".
This case has shocked the UK, highlighting the hidden nature of modern slavery. While justice is being served in Gloucester, law enforcement agencies globally are tackling serious crimes. In Nigeria, police recently made a breakthrough in the tragic murder of Destiny Boy, underscoring the universal fight for justice.
Wixon has been released on bail and is scheduled for sentencing on March 12.
Stay tuned to Naijarave for updates on the sentencing of this landmark case.
