Woman kept in ‘Dickensian’ servitude for 25 years speaks out as abuser jailed

A woman imprisoned and forced to work for a mother of 10 for more than a quarter of a century in “Dickensian” conditions has said nothing can give her back her lost years as her abuser was sentenced to 13 years.

The woman, who was held by Amanda Wixon in Tewkesbury, said: “For 25 years I lived in fear, control and abuse. I was treated as though my life, my freedom and my voice did not matter. The trauma and the nightmares are something I still carry with me every day.”

In a statement released as Wixon, 56, was sentenced at Gloucester crown court on Thursday morning, the woman said: “I am now living with a wonderful family who show me kindness, patience and support. Their love is helping me slowly rebuild the life that was taken from me and begin to feel safe again. Nothing can give me back the 25 years I lost.”

There are growing calls for social services to explain why the victim, now in her 40s, slipped through the net. Her foster carer said: “It’s just a horrible situation which should never have happened. I think social services should be more alert and then maybe no one else will go through what she has been through.”

Wixon beat the woman, squirted washing-up liquid down her throat, splashed bleach on her face and shaved her head against her will. She hit her with a broom handle, knocking out teeth, and put her head down the toilet.