*Trigger warning: descriptions of severe physical abuse
A court in the UK recently found a woman guilty of keeping another women in modern slavery for 25 years. The exploitation was exposed four years ago when one of the biological children raised concerns with authorities. However, the press has only now been able to report details of the case due to reporting restrictions.
Thick calluses from constant cleaning
A woman identified in court as K was 16 when she was placed in the care of Mandy Wixon, a mother of ten. Over the next 25 years, prosecutors said, she was subjected to sustained abuse and forced domestic labor inside the family home.
K was not allowed to leave the house and had limited access to food. Officers described her bedroom as resembling a “prison cell,” while the wider home was reported to be dirty and cluttered. Evidence presented in court showed she was routinely forced to clean on her hands and knees for prolonged periods, leaving large calluses on her feet and ankles.
The abuse was also physical and punitive. K endured regular beatings, including being struck with a broom handle with such force that it knocked out her teeth. The court heard that bleach was splashed on her face and dish soap squirted down her throat as punishment for perceived noncompliance. When police eventually found her, they documented scarring on her lips and face consistent with chemical burns.
After overcoming her initial fear, K told the officers who located her, according to the BBC:
I don’t want to be here. I don’t feel safe. Mandy hits me all the time. I don’t like it.
A “Dickensian quality” to the case
During proceedings, the court commented on the shocking Dickensian qualities of the case. Thankfully, in a win for K and survivors everywhere, Wixon was found guilty of false imprisonment, requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labor, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. She was released on conditional bail to be sentenced in March. But while Wixon’s sentence is yet to be served, K is now free, rebuilding her life, and flourishing.
Laura Burgess, a senior prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service shared:
The progress she has made since being removed from this oppressive environment is a testament to her strength.
Indeed, now in her 40s, K is living with a foster family. She is attending college and has been able to enjoy holidays abroad. Those around her describe her as now being able to live a happy life.
Commenting further on K’s progress and the guilty verdict Burgess stated:
Our thoughts remain with (K) as she continues to rebuild her life, and I hope she can find some comfort in seeing justice delivered today.
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