In a landmark case exposing prolonged human rights abuses, Mandy Wixon, a 56-year-old resident of Tewkesbury, England, has been convicted of enslaving a vulnerable woman with learning difficulties for a quarter century. The Gloucester Crown Court found Wixon guilty on multiple charges including false imprisonment, forced compulsory labor, and assault causing actual bodily harm.
The victim, now in her forties, endured systematic physical abuse, deliberate starvation, and coerced labor within Wixon’s overcrowded residence. According to police testimony, her living conditions resembled a ‘prison cell,’ with evidence indicating extreme maltreatment including forced ingestion of washing-up liquid.
The prolonged captivity ended in March 2021 when authorities, alerted by one of Wixon’s sons, discovered the victim in a severely malnourished and psychologically traumatized state. Medical examination confirmed prolonged physical and emotional abuse consistent with modern slavery practices.
Detective Inspector Steve Bean of Gloucestershire Police described the case as ‘one of the most severe domestic servitude situations encountered in recent British criminal history,’ highlighting the calculated nature of the exploitation over decades.
Wixon remains in custody pending sentencing scheduled for March 12, where she faces substantial imprisonment under modern slavery legislation and assault charges. Social services have placed the victim in specialized care for recovery and rehabilitation.