UPDATE: A mother of ten, Amanda Wixon, aged 53, is facing significant prison time after being found guilty of holding a vulnerable young woman as a slave in her home for 25 years. The harrowing conditions of the victim, known as K, were revealed during a two-week trial at Gloucester Crown Court, where details emerged of the abuse and neglect she suffered from the age of 14.
The shocking case, described by the presiding judge as having “almost a Dickensian quality,” highlights a disturbing reality of modern slavery right in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. K was subjected to daily forced labor, cleaning and caring for Wixon’s children while being denied basic rights, such as adequate food and medical care. She was reportedly only fed leftovers once a day and was physically assaulted multiple times, including being beaten with a broom handle and held down in a toilet.
The full extent of K’s plight came to light when she bravely contacted a family member on her mobile phone in March 2021, revealing the horrific abuse. Authorities were alerted, leading to a police raid that found K in a state of severe malnourishment and fear. Officers described her as looking “timid and frightened,” with missing teeth and visible bruising.
During the trial, it was disclosed that K was taken in by Wixon in 1996 when her own parents were struggling. Instead of receiving care, she was forced into a life of servitude, often tied and gagged for extended periods. Neighbors described Wixon as controlling and manipulative, with little awareness of K’s existence until the rescue operation.
Wixon faced multiple charges, including requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labor, false imprisonment, and assault. The jury delivered their verdict, and Wixon is now set to be sentenced next month, leaving the community shaken by the revelations.
In the aftermath of her rescue, social workers report that K is slowly recovering, gaining weight and attending classes in mathematics and English at a local college. She is also participating in football, reclaiming her life step by step after years of torment.
Local residents have expressed disbelief at the situation, with one neighbor commenting on Wixon’s behavior: “She seemed nasty and vindictive,” they said, reflecting on the missed signs of K’s suffering in plain sight. The case serves as a grim reminder of the hidden faces of modern slavery and the urgent need for vigilance in our communities.
As K continues her journey to recovery, the community is left to grapple with the implications of such a horrific crime occurring right under their noses. The upcoming sentencing of Wixon is highly anticipated, as many await justice for K and a resolution to this shocking chapter in Tewkesbury’s history.
Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds.
