A fraudster who fleeced a vulnerable pensioner out of almost £300,000 has touched down at Manchester Airport after being arrested in Tenerife.
Pamela Gwinnett, dubbed the 'Black widow', failed to appear in court in October 2025. The 63-year-old was sentenced to six years in jail for several offences, including fraud by abuse of position and theft.
Escape to Spain
She tried to escape justice by absconding to Spain, however, the National Crime Agency and Spanish Police secured her extradition and arrest earlier this month. The con artist had set herself up as the carer of retired accountant Joan Green in order to cheat her out of her life savings during the Covid pandemic. She then splurged her ill-gotten gains on Botox and lavish meals.
Victim kept like a caged animal
All the while, Mrs Green was kept like a caged animal at her home in Chorley, Lancashire. She persuaded the 89-year-old to appoint her Lasting Power of Attorney before stealing the money. A court was told how Gwinnett made false accusations against Mrs Green's family and isolated her by changing the locks and the landline phone number at her gated bungalow.
Carers who visited the house witnessed Gwinnett ‘barking’ at the pensioner and neglecting her basic care needs. One physiotherapist said Mrs Green lived like a caged animal. She also 'connived to isolate Joan from her family and friends.' When Mrs Green asked why her family no longer visited, Gwinnett said they ‘weren’t good enough.’ She made up false allegations against family members and claimed to have the support of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Death and flight
After spending her final years being 'milked like a cash cow' by Gwinnett, Mrs Green died in 2022. Gwinnett fled the country in April 2025 whilst awaiting trial for theft and fraud by abuse of position. She had asked a judge to amend her bail conditions so she could travel to Tenerife to scatter her brother's ashes. The request was refused but she ignored the court order and five days later boarded a plane to the Spanish Canary island.
Gwinnett was convicted in her absence and in October last year was sentenced to six years in prison at Preston Crown Court. She was also ordered to pay back £300,000 at a subsequent Proceeds of Crime Act hearing. She is set to appear at Preston Crown Court on Friday (July 31).
Judge's remarks
Passing sentence, Judge Michael Maher said he knew 'full well' she was in Tenerife and told her: "You have treated this process as you did Joan Green with utter contempt." He added: "I sincerely hope that Ms. Gwinnett is extradited back to the UK to serve this sentence for these egregious offences. It is an affront to justice and the rule of law for this Defendant to be allowed to remain in Tenerife."
Police reaction
Following her arrest in Spain, Officer in charge of the investigation, PC Georgia Loughton, said: “I am pleased that Pamela Gwinnett will be returned to the UK where she will serve her sentence. Pamela knowingly defrauded a vulnerable woman out of almost £300,000, cutting off all contact with her family and controlling every aspect of her life. “She was trusted by Joan, and she used this position of trust to her own financial gain. Joan was isolated from her family and denied from seeing her grandchildren and their children. “Sadly, Joan passed away in 2022, however we hope that the return of Pamela to the UK to serve her sentence gives Joan’s family a sense of justice as they look to move on with their lives."
