Mandy Wixon has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for keeping a vulnerable woman captive in her home for 25 years
Handing down his sentence, the judge tells Wixon she "cruelly and persistently held [the victim] captive" and "crushed her spirit"
The victim, who the BBC is calling K, was made to clean Wixon's overcrowded home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and was forced to live off scraps
The abuse has had a "significant" impact on K, the prosecution told the court," adding she will "live with the effects of her trauma for the rest of her life"
In his sentencing, the judge tells the court that K now requires 24-hour care due to the neglect suffered
In an impact statement, K told the court she is often "panicked and frozen", loud noises scare her, and she feels "anxiety every day"
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Mandy Wixon arrives at court ahead of her sentencing
Lee Madan
At Gloucester Crown Court
Wixon is now back in the dock, wearing a denim jacket and an oversized scarf.
During this morning's hearing, she has been sat with her head tilted, looking emotionless and often with her arms folded.
When the judge called for a short break, he revoked her bail so she was led into custody during the recess.
Maisie Lillywhite
At Gloucester Crown Court
The court has been dismissed by the judge for a short break.
When proceedings resume, we will be hearing from the defence.
Maisie Lillywhite
At Gloucester Crown Court
During a victim statement read out in court, K said for 25 years she lived in "fear, control and abuse".
"I was treated as though my life, my freedom and my voice did not matter.
“Although my abuser has now been found guilty, the trauma and the nightmares are something I still carry with me every day," she said
K added the "love" shown to her now is helping her "slowly rebuild the life that was taken" from her, and is starting to feel safe again.
“Nothing can give me back the 25 years I lost," K added.
“But I hope the court recognises the deep and lasting harm this abuse has caused and delivers a sentence that truly reflects the seriousness of these crimes.”
Phil Mackie
At Gloucester Crown Court
During her trial, we were told that for the length of K’s captivity, Wixon claimed benefits on her behalf.
Jones told the court that while an exact figure was impossible to ascertain, the amount she’d been paid over 25 years was likely to be more than £100,000.
Maisie Lillywhite
At Gloucester Crown Court
K said although she now lives with a "wonderful family", she "lost 25 years" at Wixon's hands.
In her victim impact statement, K said she often feels "panicked and frozen" and loud noises scare her.
"When I was rescued by the police in 2021, they saved me," K said, but she added she carries "anxiety every day".
"When I saw Mandy, I was shaking and upset - I had to stand up for myself," the victim said of the trial.
Phil Mackie
At Gloucester Crown Court
Despite the physical injuries, the psychological effect of Wixon's actions have had the worst impact on K, Jones continued.
Nightmares have continued for K, years after she was removed from Wixon's home in Tewkesbury.
In a statement from the victim’s foster mother, which was read out in court, we learned more about her rehabilitation after being rescued.
At first, we were told she struggled with basic day-to-day living. She didn’t know how to go outside, how to cross a road, didn’t even know how to dress appropriately for bad weather.
She was deprived of food and drink for so long that she struggled to understand that she didn’t need to ask permission from the foster mother who looks after her.
"She felt the need to clean all the time, she found it impossible to relax - this appeared to be engraved in her," Jones said, reading from a statement from K's foster mother's statement.
As the court was being told this, the victim reached for a box of tissues and wiped tears from her eyes, and was comforted by one of the appropriate adults with her.
Her foster mum says she thinks after the case is over, K will thrive
Maisie Lillywhite
At Gloucester Crown Court
Sam Jones, prosecuting, said Wixon's abuse has had a "significant" and "life-altering" impact on K's daily life.
Reading a psychological report, he added: "That which has happened to K still controls much of her life and she will live with the effects of her trauma for the rest of her life."
He also listed some of Wixon's abuse, including pouring cleaning fluid into K's mouth, pushing K downstairs, and forcing her head down a toilet bowl.
Phil Mackie
At Gloucester Crown Court
The victim, who we’re not naming because of her vulnerabilities, is watching proceedings via a video link from the court next door.
She appears healthy and is smartly dressed.
When police rescued her from her virtual prison in Tewkesbury she was malnourished and bruised.
Maisie Lillywhite
At Gloucester Crown Court
The sentencing of Wixon began just after 10:00 GMT.
There was a short delay as Judge Ian Lawrie KC said that, for "entirely practical reasons of safety", the public were put in the empty courtroom next door and are watching via video link.
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
Digital Journalist
Since being rescued, K is now living with a foster family, attending college and has been on holiday.
Det Con Emma Jackson, from Gloucestershire Police, said K was "flourishing" and living a healthy life.
Laura Burgess, a senior prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, added: "The progress she has made since being removed from this oppressive environment is a testament to her strength.
"Our thoughts remain with her as she continues to rebuild her life, and I hope she can find some comfort in seeing justice delivered."
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
Digital Journalist
When discovered by police, K had large calluses on her feet and ankles from being constantly on her hands and knees cleaning floors.
Doctors ruled she was malnourished, with a dentist also noting she would have been in agony for years due to untreated infections and abscesses.
Quote MessageI don't want to be here. I don't feel safe. Mandy hits me all the time.
K told officers
Chris Kelly
Digital Editor, BBC West
Arrest footage after woman kept as slave for 25 years
When police first arrested Wixon, they could be heard commenting on the "absolutely filthy bedding" in K's room.
The video shows the arrest itself and police searching the house, and then finding a list of phone numbers hidden under a pillow.
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
Digital Journalist
The court was previously told that K moved in with Wixon in 1996.
She was 16 years old at the time and grew up alongside Wixon's 10 children.
After one of Wixon's sons moved out in 2021, he reported his mother's crimes to police, saying he was concerned for K's welfare.
Maisie Lillywhite
Mandy Wixon showed no emotion as she arrived at Gloucester Crown Court.
The defendant was carrying a large bag and didn't speak when asked questions by reporters.
She was found guilty of keeping a woman captive for 25 years and using her as a slave.
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
Digital Journalist
Image source, Gloucestershire PoliceWixon forced the victim, who the BBC is calling K to protect her identity, to live off scraps, squirted washing-up liquid down her throat, splashed bleach on her face and shaved her head against her will.
The court heard that K was born into a troubled family and, when she was about 16 in 1996, was given to Wixon, who had a loose connection to her family.
The court heard K, who has learning disabilities, was regularly beaten and also hit with a broom handle, knocking out her teeth.
Her food was limited by Wixon and she was kept in squalid conditions, the court was told.
Officers described K's bedroom as looking like a "prison cell", with other bedrooms also untidy and dirty.
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
Digital Journalist
We will be covering the sentencing of Amanda 'Mandy' Wixon at Gloucester Crown Court.
In January, the 56-year-old from Tewkesbury was found guilty of multiple modern day slavery offences, including requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour and false imprisonment.
The court was told a vulnerable woman with learning disabilities had been enslaved by Wixon for 25 years. The victim, now in her 40s, was not allowed outside for decades and beaten by Wixon.
WARNING: This live page will contain material that some people may find distressing.