Mother-of-10 jailed for 13 years after forcing teenage girl to work as 'house slave'

The woman, who is now in her 40s, was forced into work for Wixon and her 10 children for more than 25 years.

Having moved into Wixon's homes in 1995 when she was 16, the victim remained there until 2021.

Gloucester Crown Court heard that the woman was regularly abused by Wixon, who beat her and hit her with a broom handle, knocking out her teeth.

The court also heard that Wixon, who the victim referred to as "The Witch", had forced washing-up liquid down the victim's throat, splashed bleach in her face and had her head shaved against her will.

Wixon's campaign of abuse also meant she limited the victim's food, giving her scraps.

The victim, who remains anonymous, could not leave the house and was forbidden from washing, so had to do in secret.

Wixon's family home in the Priors Park area of Tewkesbury was described as overcrowded and in a squalid condition, with mould growing on the walls and plaster hanging off, with rubbish accumulating in the back garden.

"The Witch" was found guilty by jury for false imprisonment, two charges of requiring a person to perform forced and compulsory labour and four charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

She was acquitted of one of the assault charges.

Detective Constable Emma Jackson from Gloucestershire Police said: "Wixon kept an extremely vulnerable victim captive in appalling conditions for over two decades.

"Instead of caring for her, as she was supposed to, she exploited her and forced her to work in domestic servitude whilst subjecting her to the most cruel and inhumane treatment.

"I commend the victim in this case for reaching out for help. Knowing all too well what the violent consequences would have been if she'd been caught, it was incredibly courageous of her.

"I'm pleased to say that the victim, with the help of her wonderful Shared Lives carer, is now flourishing. She's healthy and enjoying the freedoms Wixon denied her of for so long."

The exploitation of the victim meant that she was forced into work under the threat of violence from Wixon.

She was forced to spend hours on her knees each day, cleaning with a dustpan and brush, serving the family meals and doing other household chores.

The now 40-year-old victim also had to bathe the children and run baths for Wixon.

She hid sweet foods to eat in secret if she became hungry as she was limited to eating once a day.

Threats of violence became reality if Wixon did not think the victim had completed tasks around the home.

In the 25 years that the victim was enslaved in Wixon's home, she recounted times where the mother-of-10 strangled her, put her head down the toilet and poured cleaning chemicals over her.

The victim also recounted a time when Wixon stamped on her.

Wixon's crimes were uncovered in March 2021, when the victim called someone she knew for help on a secret mobile phone.

The police were called and officers attended Wixon's address on the evening of March 15, 2021.

After noticing the victim looked gaunt, smelt of body odour and appeared frightened, the police removed her from the address and took her to hospital.

Wixon was shortly arrested after the police visit.