Neighbour Accuses Social Services of Failing Vulnerable 'House Slave'
A vulnerable woman who was kept as a 'house slave' for 25 years by a mother-of-ten in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, was failed by social services, according to a neighbour who witnessed the abuse. Amanda Wixon, 56, was convicted this week of a 'Dickensian' campaign of abuse and false imprisonment, with the court hearing harrowing details of the victim's ordeal.
Repeated Warnings Ignored by Authorities
Neighbours living next to Wixon's council house claim they repeatedly contacted authorities over concerns for the woman's welfare, but no action was taken. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons but is now in her 40s, was initially taken in by Wixon as a 14-year-old girl for a weekend in 1996. However, she was locked away in the property until 2021, when a secret phone call finally raised the alarm.
One neighbour, Kiram, a 33-year-old mother who testified in the case, described seeing the victim beaten and thrown around 'like a rag doll'. She stated: 'I made phone calls to social services, nothing was ever done. Social services failed her massively.' Kiram noted the victim had global development delay and other learning difficulties, making her visibly vulnerable.
Horrific Living Conditions and Abuse
Police footage revealed the dank and filthy 'prison' room where the victim was kept, described as a 'house of horrors'. The woman was found fearful, filthy, and without any teeth, having suffered a litany of assaults including:
- Being punched and stamped on
- Pushed down the stairs
- Struck with a broom
- Having her head flushed in the toilet
- Washing up liquid squirted down her throat
- Bleach spattered on her face
During the trial at Gloucester Crown Court, prosecutor Samuel Jones said the victim, known as 'K', had effectively 'disappeared' from society. She was tightly controlled, rarely allowed to leave, forced to clean extensively on her knees, and denied basic necessities like food, washing facilities, and medical care.
Neighbourhood Observations and Council Response
Residents reported seeing the victim knocking on windows from inside the house, with some describing her as resembling 'something out of a concentration camp'. One neighbour said: 'What has happened is beyond belief. I thought she had moved, but all the time she must have been in the house.'
A spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council stated: 'We were first made aware of the tragic situation regarding this individual in 2021 as part of the police investigation, and since that point, our Adult Social Care services have been supporting the victim in this shocking case.'
Victim's Recovery and Legal Outcome
Since being rescued, the victim's health has improved significantly, and she has become more independent. Medical examinations revealed large calluses on her ankles from cleaning floors and evidence of extreme pain from rotting teeth.
Wixon was found guilty of:
- Two counts of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour
- One count of false imprisonment
- Three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
She was cleared of one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Wixon showed no remorse outside court, telling reporters: 'Why would I say sorry for something I never did?' She will be sentenced in March, with the judge confirming a jail term is 'a certainty'.
