Residents living near Amanda Wixon have come forward with disturbing accounts of what they witnessed over decades, as the 56-year-old mother of ten was convicted this week for keeping a woman with learning disabilities as a family slave for 25 years. Wixon was found guilty of multiple counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, false imprisonment, and requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour at Gloucester Crown Court.
Neighbour Testimonies Paint Picture of Prolonged Horror
One neighbour, Kiram, who lived nearby from the age of 13, provided harrowing testimony about what she observed. "I could see it from my room," she revealed. "I made phone calls to social services, but nothing was ever done. The last time they were informed was back in 2019." Kiram described witnessing the victim being physically beaten and "ripped like a rag doll" in the Tewkesbury home.
When finally rescued in 2021, the victim was found with no teeth and large calluses on her feet and ankles from being forced to clean floors on her hands and knees. "It was disgusting," said Kiram. "I'm just so shocked it's been going on for so long."
Systemic Failures Allowed Abuse to Continue
The court heard how the victim, who was kidnapped in 1997 as a secondary school student and only escaped in 2021, had slipped through the cracks of social services in the 1990s. This allowed Wixon to continue what the judge described as a "reign of terror" that stole the woman's entire adult life.
Another neighbour admitted they had no idea Wixon was keeping the victim captive but described the family as "filthy". "Why did none of them ever question why she was being treated that way?" they asked. "Social services were always shut down, so how was the family meant to know what was going on? That girl is still suffering and she lost 25 years of her life."
Psychological Expert Explains Escalating Abuse Pattern
Dr Ruth Tully, Consultant Forensic Psychologist, explained that in cases like this, abuse often escalates gradually over time. "People who commit crimes like this often target people with existing vulnerabilities," she said. "They start the process of abuse slowly, normalising bad treatment, which then becomes extreme. Perpetrators are often indifferent to the suffering of their victim."
The expert added that the victim will likely experience long-lasting trauma and require extensive support. "This sort of offending can ruin lives," Dr Tully emphasised.
Victim's Recovery and Ongoing Trauma
Since being rescued, the victim has made significant progress. She has moved in with a foster family, been on holidays abroad, and had dentures fitted. Kiram reported that "the victim is thriving" and "like a completely different person."
However, the psychological scars remain profound. The victim still suffers from nightmares and has a compulsive need to clean - a direct result of Wixon's forced servitude. Tragically, the woman was originally only supposed to stay with Wixon for a weekend as the daughter of one of her friends, but became trapped when the mother-of-ten locked all windows and doors.
Financial Exploitation and Denial of Basic Needs
The court heard that Wixon raked in thousands of pounds by cashing the victim's benefits into her own account while subjecting her to violent abuse behind closed doors. The victim was forced to sleep in a mouldy, damp bedroom described as similar to a prison cell, denied food, and prevented from maintaining basic hygiene.
Bodycam footage from police officers who rescued her showed the "vulnerable" woman unwashed and terrified. She told officers: "I don't want to be here. I don't feel safe. Mandy hits me all the time. I don't like it. I haven't washed for years. She doesn't let me."
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Wixon showed no remorse when the verdict was read, responding "Not a lot" when asked if she had anything to say to her victim, and "No. I never done it" when asked if she was sorry. Judge Ian Lawrie KC told her that a custodial sentence was "a certainty", with sentencing scheduled for March.
Sam Jones, prosecuting, told the jury: "She was kept in and prevented from leaving the address and she was assaulted and hit many, many times and forced to work with the threats of violence. She had been denied food and the ability to wash over many years."
Detective Sergeant Alex Pockett from Gloucestershire Police said he had never come across a case like this and that it had clearly had a massive impact on the victim. "She was treated really, really badly while she was in the address," he stated.
