When it comes to ‘she didn’t want me to hug her’: carer of enslaved woman describes her recovery, after enduring 25 years of psychological and physical abuse, a woman, now in her 40s, is beginning her journey of recovery in a safe environment. The victim, who was held in what can only be described as "Dickensian conditions" by her captor, Amanda Wixon, is slowly adjusting to a life free from fear. Wixon was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Tuesday for her horrific crimes.
The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was taken in by a foster carer who has shared her harrowing story. Upon her arrival, she was frail and timid, unable to accept affection. The carer, who has also opted to stay unnamed to protect the victim's identity, noted that the woman struggled with the concept of being cared for. "She was very skinny. I had to take her to the doctors and get lots of appointments and try and feed her and show her love," the carer explained. "It was really hard even giving her hugs. She didn't want me to hug her. So I used to say to her: 'You know, when you're ready, I'll be here for you.' Within the week, she turned around and started being loving." Originally reported by The Guardian.
Understanding ‘She Didn’t Want Me To Hug Her’: Carer Of Enslaved Woman Describes Her Recovery
The victim was approximately 16 years old when she first fell into the clutches of Wixon, who subjected her to years of mistreatment. Living in a house in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, the woman faced severe neglect and abuse. "Basically, she wouldn't get any food. She would get scraps. She was doing a lot of housework. And when she asked for things, she would be refused. She just wasn't being looked after at all. It was just horrible," the carer recounted.
According to the carer, Wixon's cruelty knew no bounds. "[Wixon] would bash her, lock her in the room, black bags over the windows so she couldn't get any light. Her abuser squeezed washing-up liquid down her throat and poured bleach on her face. She's got scars on her mouth. She did all the housework, cleaning, ironing, everything. She was a proper slave." The victim, who had always been a clean individual, found herself unable to wash. "When she came to me, sometimes at 3 a.m., the shower would be going," her foster carer noted.
The Long Road to Justice
The path to justice has been long and arduous for the victim. She was discovered by police in March 2021, but the case proved to be complex, taking five years to reach court. The carer expressed the victim's frustration, saying, "She said [Wixon] shouldn't be allowed to be walking around and I had to explain it to her but it was really hard, she couldn't understand. It's not fair at all." The victim referred to Wixon as "the witch" and remained terrified of her, a fear that was compounded when she unexpectedly encountered her in a supermarket during the court proceedings. "She was hysterical. I mean, she was really terrified, petrified. She was running around. It was horrible. She went absolutely mad," the carer recalled.
Calls for Systemic Change
Reflecting on the systemic failures that allowed the victim's abuse to continue for so long, the foster carer believes there should be a thorough Investigation. "Nobody did anything. They just left her there to suffer. I personally think it's appalling. There should be something done about it. I don't know how they let that slip," she stated. At one point, the victim had managed to reach out to authorities, but her plea went unanswered. "There needs to be a shake-up and I hope that nobody else goes through what she's been through. I think they need to be more alert and to help other people," the carer emphasized.
As the victim continues her recovery, she attends therapy and has begun to reclaim aspects of her life. She has enrolled in college and even traveled abroad, experiences she had long been denied. The carer mentioned, "She wants a big cruise. We've done the Mediterranean, so she wants to do a big one next time. We've actually been on quite a few holidays, I think five so far. She's enjoying life now because I'm trying to show her a life that she didn't have before." The carer remains hopeful that the victim will eventually find peace, noting, "I think she'll be OK in time. Her abuser needs to pay. If she doesn't, I don't think she'll ever get closure from all of this."
Originally reported by The Guardian. View original.