A Gloucestershire jury convicted 56-year-old Amanda Wixon of modern slavery offences after a vulnerable woman placed in her care at 16 was held captive and forced to work as a domestic servant for more than 20 years. The victim was routinely beaten, denied food, hygiene and medical or dental care, and was found by police on March 15, 2021, malnourished and suffering untreated infections. Wixon was found guilty on Jan. 21 and denies the charges; she will be sentenced on March 12.
Mother of Ten Found Guilty of Modern Slavery After Holding Woman Captive for More Than 20 Years
Ben Birchall/PA Images via GettyAmanda Wixon
A jury at Gloucestershire Crown Court has convicted 56-year-old Amanda Wixon of modern slavery offences after a vulnerable woman was kept in squalid conditions and forced to work as a domestic servant for over two decades.
Conviction and Charges
On Jan. 21, a jury found Wixon guilty of two counts of forced or compulsory labour, one count of false imprisonment and three counts of assault, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Gloucestershire Constabulary said. Wixon has denied the charges and has been released on bail ahead of a sentencing hearing scheduled for March 12.
Gloucestershire ConstabularyA photo of the victim's bedroom
Victim's Ordeal
The victim, now in her 40s and described as having learning difficulties, was placed in Wixon’s care at about age 16 in 1996. Prosecutors say she was confined to the family home for more than 20 years and exploited as a "house slave," forced to carry out lengthy, arduous domestic tasks for Wixon and her ten children.
Court material and police statements describe repeated physical abuse and severe neglect: the victim was regularly beaten, denied adequate food, barred from washing herself while being forced to bathe the children, and refused medical and dental care. Wixon is accused of withholding benefit payments claimed on the victim’s behalf and keeping those funds in her own bank account.
Gloucestershire ConstabularyA photo of the victim's bedroom
"Wixon kept an extremely vulnerable victim captive in appalling conditions for over two decades," Detective Constable Emma Jackson said. "Instead of caring for her, as she was supposed to, she exploited her and forced her to work in domestic servitude whilst subjecting her to the most cruel and inhumane treatment."
Physical Evidence and Rescue
Police say the abuse included strangulation, forcing the victim’s head into a toilet, pouring cleaning fluids on her face and in her mouth, stamping on her, and hitting her with implements such as a broom handle. Medical and dental examinations after the woman’s removal on March 15, 2021, found scarring around the mouth consistent with chemical exposure, severe dental infections and abscesses, calluses on the ankles consistent with prolonged kneeling, and evidence of malnutrition.
The victim managed to contact someone for help after being given a secret mobile phone. Officers who attended the address that night found her "frightened" and gaunt; she was later taken for dental and medical treatment and is reported to be making progress in recovery.
Gloucestershire ConstabularyAmanda Wixon
Prosecution Response
Senior Crown Prosecutor Laura Burgess described the case as "decades of unimaginable cruelty, exploitation and control," saying the victim had been denied freedom, dignity and basic autonomy. The police investigation and CPS prosecution were led by Gloucestershire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service.
If you suspect child abuse or modern slavery, contact relevant local authorities or support organisations. In the U.S., the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is available at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453). For local UK support, contact law enforcement or charities that support trafficking and exploitation survivors.
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