Amanda Wixon, 56, was found guilty of false imprisonment, forced labour and assault after keeping her friend’s daughter at her Tewkesbury home from 1995 to 2021
The woman who held a teenage girl captive for a quarter of a century in appalling conditions refused to say sorry to her victim outside court.
Amanda Wixon, 56, took in the young woman – her friend’s daughter – back in 1995 and put her through 25 years of abuse. Gloucester Crown Court was told the woman endured regular beatings with a broom handle, had washing-up liquid forced down her throat, and bleach thrown in her face.
The woman, now in her mid-40s, was just 16 when she moved into the filthy home of mother-of-10 Wixon and stayed there until 2021. Her meals were rationed and she wasn’t allowed to leave the property.
She was made to wash herself in secret during the night. Wixon was convicted of six charges, including forced labour, unlawful imprisonment and assault, by a jury and displayed zero remorse outside court after learning she would walk free on conditional bail ahead of sentencing on March 12, reports the Mirror.
When asked what she wanted to say to her victim, she responded: “Not a lot.”
Pressed on whether she felt remorse, she said: “No. I never done it.”
When questioned about being a “monster” as she paused to light a cigarette, she retorted: “Say what you think.”
And after being informed she could face a 10-year jail term, Wixon shot back: “I know that. Do you think I am stupid? Do you think I don’t know that?”
The family residence in the Priors Park district of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, was cramped and in a filthy state, with mould covering the walls, crumbling plasterwork and debris scattered across the rear garden.
The accused rejected charges of false imprisonment, two counts of compelling an individual to undertake forced or compulsory labour, and four counts of assault causing actual bodily harm.
A jury cleared her of one assault allegation but convicted her on the remaining charges.
Sam Jones, prosecuting, informed 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.”
Judge Ian Lawrie KC remarked there was a “Dickensian quality” to the case after the woman, who suffers from learning difficulties, departed her own “dysfunctional family”.
Constables attended the property in March 2021 following a report submitted by one of Wixon’s sons regarding the woman.
Officers described the woman’s sleeping quarters as resembling a “prison cell”, while other rooms were messy and grimy.
She informed police: “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.”
The court was informed that social services had dealings with the family in the late 1990s, but there were no records of any subsequent contact. “The fact remains that nothing was done by social services,” stated Mr Jones.
The woman had neither medical nor dental records and hadn’t seen a doctor in twenty years.
Edward Hollingsworth, defending, characterised the prosecution’s case as a “tale of fantasy and lies”, suggesting a “child-like fantasy” underpinned the woman’s allegations. “The life of Amanda Wixon was much more complicated and nuanced,” he declared.
“Her other children were not vaccinated, not attending school, and had rotting teeth and head lice.”
He described their living conditions as squalid, with the other children’s bedrooms being equally appalling. “The truth is, that just like Mandy and others in the family, their teeth rotted out by neglect, and has been inflated to a story of violent abuse,” he asserted.
“Negligent but not the systematic abuse that has been alleged.”
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.