A neighbour of Amanda Wixon, the mother-of-ten convicted of keeping a vulnerable woman as a 'slave' for 25 years, has broken her silence, claiming she made multiple reports to social services that were ignored. The shocking case, centred on a squalid and overcrowded home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, has raised serious questions about safeguarding failures.
Neighbour's Repeated Alerts to Authorities
Kiran, a 33-year-old mother who served as a witness in the case, stated she contacted social services numerous times over the years regarding her concerns about the victim. "I made phone calls to social services, nothing was ever done," she revealed. "The last time they were informed was back in 2019. Social services failed her massively." Kiran, who lived next door from the age of 13, recalled observing disturbing behaviour from her bedroom window.
Horrific Conditions and Abuse Detailed
Amanda Wixon, 56, was found guilty at Gloucester Crown Court of false imprisonment, forcing the woman to perform compulsory labour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The victim, who has global development delay and learning difficulties, was subjected to appalling treatment in what Kiran described as a "house of horrors."
The abuse included:
- Washing-up liquid being squirted down the victim's throat
- Bleach thrown on her face
- Being manhandled "like a rag doll"
- Forced to sit on her legs for extended periods
- Being made to clean the filthy, overcrowded property
Victim's Silent Cries for Help
Kiran recounted how the victim would occasionally appear at windows, tapping and waving silently. "There were a few occasions where she'd come to the window. But that was years later. We didn't think she was still there," she said. The neighbour last properly saw the victim as a child, then noticed her again around 2016, with further sightings during the 2020-2021 lockdown period when the knocking on windows occurred.
Community Shock and Questions
Other local residents expressed their disbelief that such abuse could occur in their neighbourhood. One neighbour described Amanda Wixon as appearing "normal," with interactions limited to brief greetings. Another called the property "filthy" and questioned why Wixon's own children never raised concerns about the victim's treatment.
"Why did none of them ever question why she was being treated that way?" the neighbour asked. "Why were they never made to scrub the floors? That girl is still suffering and she lost 25 years of her life."
Victim's Remarkable Recovery
Despite the horrific ordeal, there is positive news about the victim's progress since her discovery by police in 2021. Kiran reported: "The victim is thriving. She is doing really well. She's like a completely different person. She's better in herself. She's got the opportunity to learn things now. Nothing's gonna stop her from progressing the way she has done."
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Amanda Wixon, convicted on all charges at Gloucester Crown Court, is scheduled for sentencing in March. The case has highlighted significant concerns about how vulnerable adults are protected within communities and the responsiveness of social services to repeated warnings from concerned neighbours.
The neighbour's testimony underscores the tragic reality that despite multiple alerts over many years, the victim remained imprisoned in plain sight, suffering abuse that only ended when police intervention finally occurred.
