Woman Found Guilty of 25-Year Captivity and Abuse

Mandy Wixon, a 56-year-old mother of ten, has been found guilty by Gloucester Crown Court of keeping a woman with learning difficulties captive for 25 years in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. The victim, referred to as K, was subjected to severe abuse, forced labor, and lived in squalid conditions until her rescue in March 2021.

Woman guilty of keeping slave for 25 years in Tewkesbury

The court heard that K was taken in by Wixon at the age of 16 in the mid-1990s, initially intended to stay for just a weekend. Instead, she was confined to Wixon's home, where she was regularly beaten, denied food, and forced to perform domestic chores under threat of violence. Wixon's treatment included pouring washing-up liquid down K's throat, splashing bleach on her face, and shaving her head against her will. The living conditions were described as "Dickensian," with K's bedroom resembling a "prison cell" and the house overcrowded with at least 13 individuals at times.

Woman guilty of keeping slave for 25 years in Tewkesbury

K was discovered after one of Wixon's sons raised concerns for her welfare, prompting police intervention. Upon arrival, officers found K malnourished, with untreated infections and scarring from the abuse. She expressed her fear, stating, "I don't want to be here. I don't feel safe. Mandy hits me all the time." Following her rescue, K has since been placed with a foster family, where she is reportedly thriving, attending college, and enjoying a healthier lifestyle.

Woman guilty of keeping slave for 25 years in Tewkesbury

Wixon was charged with false imprisonment, requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labor, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. During the trial, the prosecution highlighted the lack of medical and social service records for K over the years, suggesting she had effectively "disappeared" from society. Wixon's defense argued that her life was complex and that K was not violently abused, but rather neglected. Wixon maintained her innocence, stating, "I never done it," and expressed no remorse for her actions.

Woman imprisoned and forced to work for Tewkesbury mother for more than 25 years

Detective Constable Emma Jackson from Gloucestershire Police remarked on the severity of the situation, stating, "Wixon kept an extremely vulnerable victim captive in appalling conditions for over two decades." Senior Crown Prosecutor Laura Burgess emphasized the unimaginable cruelty K endured, noting, "She was denied her freedom, her dignity, and even the most basic autonomy."

Woman imprisoned and forced to work for Tewkesbury mother for more than 25 years

The case has raised questions about the role of social services, which had previously been involved with Wixon's family in the late 1990s but had no records of contact since. Prosecutor Sam Jones criticized the lack of oversight, stating, "The fact remains that nothing was done by social services."

Woman imprisoned and forced to work for Tewkesbury mother for more than 25 years

Mandy Wixon is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2023. The outcome of this case may prompt further scrutiny of social service practices regarding vulnerable individuals in similar situations.

Woman guilty of keeping slave for 25 years in Tewkesbury