Victim Held Captive 25 Years, Forced Into Slavery

A woman in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, has been convicted of holding another woman with learning difficulties captive for 25 years, subjecting her to a life of slavery. Mandy Wixon, a mother of ten, was found guilty at Gloucester Crown Court. The court heard how the victim, referred to as K, was forced to clean Wixon's squalid home and subsist on scraps. She also endured severe physical abuse, including beatings and having her head shaved against her will.

K, who is now in her 40s, was given to Wixon around the age of 16 in 1996 by her family. She was discovered by police on March 15, 2021, following concerns raised by one of Wixon's sons. Officers described K's living conditions as akin to a prison cell. Judge Ian Lawrie noted the "Dickensian quality" of the case. Wixon has been convicted of false imprisonment, requiring a person to perform forced labor, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Reporting restrictions were in place until recently. Since her rescue, K has been placed with a foster family, is attending college, and has experienced travel, including holidays abroad. Wixon was released on conditional bail and is scheduled for sentencing on March 12. Her response when questioned by reporters after leaving court was dismissive and defiant.