‘Black Widow’ Carer Fleeces Pensioner of £300k, Escapes to Tenerife for Botox and Lavish Lifestyle
A carer branded the "Black Widow" has been exposed for stealing a staggering £300,000 from a vulnerable elderly woman, then fleeing to Tenerife where she splurged the illicit funds on cosmetic treatments and extravagant dining. Pamela Gwinnett, aged 63, was convicted in absentia and sentenced to six years in prison for her brazen crimes against 89-year-old Joan Green from Chorley, Lancashire.
Systematic Isolation and Financial Exploitation
During the Covid pandemic, Gwinnett insidiously isolated Ms Green from her family, securing power of attorney and manipulating her circumstances to maintain control. She changed landline numbers and even dismissed a long-term gardener, effectively cutting off the pensioner from her support network. Employed merely for light cleaning and shopping duties, Gwinnett instead plundered Ms Green's savings through a joint bank account, amassing just over £296,000.
Ms Green passed away in 2022, but the trauma of Gwinnett's betrayal lingers. Preston Crown Court heard how the fraudster abused her position of trust, with the jury convicting her of fraud by abuse of position and theft last year, despite her denials.
Fugitive Lifestyle in Tenerife
In a blatant disregard for justice, Gwinnett fled to Tenerife in breach of a court order, using the pretext of scattering her brother's ashes. Judge Michael Maher revealed that her application to vary bail conditions for this trip was refused on April 2, 2025, yet she boarded a plane just five hours later. She has remained at large since April 2025, treating the legal process with "utter contempt," according to the judge.
Sky News tracked Gwinnett to her new home in Tenerife, where she has been living off the stolen fortune. Investigations show she spent the money on Botox treatments, lavish meals, a £22,500 car, and mortgage payments for properties she owned. Shockingly, she audaciously claimed to reporters that Ms Green's family was responsible for the theft, despite overwhelming court evidence to the contrary.
Legal Repercussions and Community Outrage
The court has issued a confiscation order of £350,180.79 against Gwinnett, demanding repayment within three months or face an additional three-and-a-half-year prison sentence. She has made multiple attempts to appeal her six-year sentence, all while continuing to instruct her legal team from abroad.
In her Tenerife flat complex, neighbours have taken action by putting up posters declaring "wanted" and "Justice for Joan Green," spreading awareness of her crimes. Ms Green's family expressed fury, with step-grandson David Bolton stating it is "annoying" that Gwinnett is "sunning it up in Tenerife" without remorse.
Bolton described Gwinnett as "evil but very clever," alleging she knows how to manipulate the system and suggesting this was not her first offence. The family's pain underscores the devastating impact of such exploitation on vulnerable individuals and their loved ones.
