By Prosper Mene
A shocking case of modern-day slavery has come to light in the UK, where a mother of 10 has been jailed for keeping a vulnerable woman captive and forcing her to live as a “house slave” for more than 25 years.
Amanda Wixon (also reported as Mandy Wixon), 56, from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, was sentenced to 13 years in prison on March 12, 2026, at Gloucester Crown Court. She was convicted of charges including false imprisonment, requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, and multiple counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The ordeal began in 1995 when the victim, who has learning disabilities, was just 16 years old. She moved into Wixon’s squalid and overcrowded home and remained trapped there until police discovered her in 2021. Over the decades, Wixon subjected her to unimaginable cruelty: forcing her to clean the filthy house, perform manual labour for Wixon and her 10 children, and survive on scraps of food while being deprived of proper meals, healthcare, and freedom.
The victim endured regular physical assaults, including beatings if tasks were not completed, having her head forcibly shaved, bleach splashed on her, washing-up liquid squirted down her throat, and other degrading treatment. She was also made to hand over her benefits, with reports indicating Wixon stole over £100,000 from her. The woman lived in constant fear, describing in impact statements how she “lived in fear” for 25 years in what prosecutors and police called one of the worst cases of modern slavery they had encountered.
Police and the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the victim’s vulnerability due to her learning difficulties, which Wixon exploited to maintain control. The home was described as squalid, and the abuse was likened to “Dickensian” servitude.
Following her conviction in January 2026 after a 13-day trial, Wixon was sentenced today. The judge emphasized the prolonged and severe nature of the exploitation. The victim, now in her mid-40s and referred to as “K” in some reports to protect her identity, has been supported in recovery since her rescue.
This harrowing case sheds light on the hidden reality of modern slavery in the UK, even within seemingly ordinary households, and serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance for signs of exploitation among vulnerable individuals. Authorities have praised the victim’s courage in coming forward after years of torment.
