A woman who was kept as a domestic slave for 25 years in Gloucestershire has spoken out after her abuser was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Amanda Wixon, 56, was convicted of false imprisonment, forced labour, and assault at Gloucester Crown Court.
The victim, who has learning disabilities, was 16 when she moved into Wixon’s home in Tewkesbury in the mid-1990s for what was supposed to be a weekend stay. She remained there until police discovered her in 2021 after a tip-off. During her captivity, she was beaten, had washing-up liquid squirted down her throat, bleach splashed on her face, and her head shaved against her will. She was forced to live on scraps, clean floors constantly, and wash secretly at night. Her benefit money, totalling £100,000, was paid into Wixon’s account.
In a statement released after sentencing, the victim said: “For 25 years I lived in fear, control and abuse. I was treated as though my life, my freedom and my voice did not matter. Nothing can give me back the 25 years I lost.” She is now living with a foster family who are helping her rebuild her life.
The case has sparked calls for an investigation into social services, who had been involved with the family in the late 1990s but had no record of contact since. A neighbour claimed she had raised concerns but nothing was done. The court heard there were no medical or dental records for the victim, who had not seen a doctor in two decades.
Lauren Saunders of the charity Unseen said: “The awareness of domestic servitude is really low because it happens in private homes. There is a real lack of training for professionals on how to identify the signs of exploitation.” The charity reported a 37% rise in modern slavery victims in 2025, with over 6,600 cases.
