A woman kept in 'Dickensian' servitude for 25 years has spoken out as her abuser, Amanda Wixon, was sentenced to 13 years in prison. The victim, now in her 40s, was held at Wixon's home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, from the mid-1990s until police discovered her in 2021.
In a statement released after the sentencing at Gloucester Crown Court on Thursday, the woman said: 'For 25 years I lived in fear, control and abuse. Nothing can give me back the 25 years I lost.' She described being beaten, having washing-up liquid squirted down her throat, bleach splashed on her face, and her head shaved against her will. Wixon also hit her with a broom handle, knocking out teeth, and forced her to live off scraps and wash secretly at night.
The court heard that the victim, who has learning disabilities, was 16 when she moved into Wixon's home for a weekend but never left. She received no medical or dental care for two decades, and her £100,000 in benefits was paid into Wixon's account. Police found the house overcrowded with mould and rubbish, and described the victim's room as 'like a prison cell'.
There are growing calls for social services to explain why the victim slipped through the net. A neighbour said she had raised concerns but nothing was done. Unseen, a charity supporting modern slavery victims, said awareness of domestic servitude is 'really really low' and called for more training for professionals. New figures show a 37% rise in reported victims of modern slavery in 2025.
