A woman in England has been found guilty after it was revealed she held a victim captive in her home for more than 20 years and forced the victim to work as a “slave.”
Amanda Wixon was convicted by a jury at Gloucestershire Crown Court of two counts of forced or compulsory labor, one count of false imprisonment and three counts of assault during a hearing held on Wednesday, January 21, the Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed in a news release via Facebook on Wednesday, January 21.
It was revealed during the trial that the victim worked as a “house slave” for Wixon, 56, and her 10 children, according to Sky News.
In the Facebook post, Gloucestershire Constabulary said that “Wixon was found guilty of [modern-day] slavery [offenses]” after the police team’s Criminal Investigation Department completed an investigation into the matter.
Police shared upsetting images that showed the unpleasant conditions the victim lived in during her time at Wixon’s home.
The victim was just 16 years old when she started living at Wixon’s property, according to The Times.
“During the 13-day trial, the court heard how the victim, who is now aged in her 40s and has learning difficulties, knew Wixon through family connections and had spent time with her and her family as a child,” Gloucestershire Constabulary’s statement read. “Wixon assumed responsibility for the victim in 1996 and moved her into the family home.”
The statement went on to explain that the victim lived in “squalid conditions” for two decades when she was locked in the house, while she was also deprived of food, health and dental care. Additionally, police said that Wixon did not pay the victim for her services.
“Despite claiming benefits for the victim since 2000, which were paid into Wixon’s bank account, the victim was forced to live in poverty and wear hand-me-down clothes,” the statement read.
During her time at Wixon’s residence, the victim was forced to “complete work around the house under the threat of violence.”
The victim was ordered to spend hours on her knees each day while completing chores like sweeping the floors, serving the family their meals, washing the dishes and sorting the family’s clothes.
It was also revealed that Wixon forbade the victim from washing herself, though she was expected to run baths for Wixon and her kids.
Wixon allowed the victim to have one meal a day, which was usually leftover food or scraps.
If the victim did not complete her tasks, she would receive threats of violence and was subjected to actual violence as Wixon regularly beat her when she did not perform her jobs.
The victim eventually called someone she knew for help on March 15, 2021, after she obtained a secret cell phone, according to police.
“The police were called and officers attended Wixon’s address at around 10.40pm that evening,” the release stated. “On arrival, officers described how the victim appeared frightened, gaunt and malnourished and smelt strongly of body odor. Her hair was cropped close to her head, and she had bruises on her arms.”
Wixon was then arrested on suspicion of neglect, and the charges were authorized following an investigation.
“Wixon kept an extremely vulnerable victim captive in appalling conditions for over two decades. 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,” Detective Constable Emma Jackson from Gloucestershire Police said in a statement. “I commend the victim in this case for reaching out for help. Knowing all too well what the violent consequences would have been if she’d been caught, it was incredibly courageous of her.
Jackson added: “I’m pleased to say that the victim, with the help of her wonderful Shared Lives carer, is now flourishing. She’s healthy and enjoying the freedoms Wixon denied her of for so long.”
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