Woman kept in ‘Dickensian’ servitude for 25 years speaks out as abuser jailed (www.theguardian.com)
from HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works to world@lemmy.world on 13 Mar 11:54
https://sh.itjust.works/post/56729677

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.

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nogooduser@lemmy.world on 13 Mar 12:26 next collapse

She took more than 25 years and caused permanent mental health issues but only gets a sentence of 13 years? That doesn’t seem fair.

watson387@sopuli.xyz on 13 Mar 13:33 collapse

I agree. She should get 25 years MINIMUM.

searabbit@piefed.social on 13 Mar 14:39 collapse

Unseen, which helps victims of modern slavery, called for more training for professionals. Lauren Saunders, the charity’s deputy director of frontline services, said: “The awareness of domestic servitude is really really low because it happens in private homes. I think there is a real lack of training for professionals on how to identify the signs of exploitation.”

The charity provided the Guardian with new figures suggesting a steep increase in the number of victims of modern slavery. Its helpline received reports of more than 6,600 victims in 2025, a 37% rise on 2024.

I remember when I was in school a lady representing the same or similar organization came to raise awareness about this kind of domestic modern slavery she herself had been a victim of. It’s so heartbreaking that this kind of slavery often falls through the cracks because it’s not what you think of when you imagine slavery. If you saw your average affluent American/European family (I’m not talking anywhere close to the Epstein class) with their live in maid/nanny, your first thought wouldn’t be that the “help” is literally a slave.