Pamela Gwinnett tricked 89-year-old Joan Green into handing over financial control of almost £300,000 - which she splashed on Botox treatments and lavish meals17:13, 16 Jul 2026A woman who conned a vulnerable pensioner out of almost £300,000 is being extradited back to the UK after being found and arrested in Tenerife.‌"Shameless" fraudster Pamela Gwinnett pretended to act as the carer of 89-year-old Joan Green, who she isolated from family during the Covid-19 pandemic.‌Gwinnett, 63, raided the retired accountant's life savings after convincing Mrs Green to transfer over Power of Attorney, giving her control over her finances.‌She then used the money on Botox treatments, a £22,500 car, expensive meals, and mortgages for properties she owned - all while keeping Mrs Green like a caged animal at her home in Chorley, Lancashire.Gwinnett, dubbed the 'Black Widow', also made false accusations against Mrs Green's family and isolated the pensioner by changing the locks and the landline phone number at her gated bungalow.‌After spending her final years being "milked like a cash cow," Mrs Green died in 2022, reports Manchester Evening News. Gwinnett fled to Tenerife in April 2025 while awaiting trial for theft and fraud by abuse of position.She had earlier requested permission from a judge to travel to Tenerife to scatter her brother's ashes. The request was refused but she ignored the court order and boarded a plane to the Canary Islands five days later.In October last year, Gwinnett was convicted in her absence at Preston Crown Court and jailed for six years. She was also ordered to pay back £300,000 at a subsequent Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.‌Passing sentence, Judge Michael Maher said he knew "full well" she was in Tenerfie and told her: "You have treated this process as you did Joan Green with utter contempt."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."Carers who visited Mrs Green's home said they had witnessed Gwinnett "barking" at the pensioner and neglecting her basic care needs. One physiotherapist said Mrs Green was living like a caged animal.‌When Mrs Green asked why her family no longer visited, Gwinnett said they "weren't good enough". She made up false allegations against them and claimed to have the support of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.In March 2022, the family successfully applied to have Gwinnett's Power of Attorney revoked. But the defendant opened a joint bank account with Mrs Green to enable her ongoing access to her money.‌She stole a total of £296,173.68, which had been saved by Mrs Green and her late husband Stanley, a retired senior manager at British Aerospace. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have now confirmed Gwinnett has been arrested in Tenerife.GMP officers worked alongside the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Spanish authorities "to locate Gwinnett and begin the process of her return to the UK", where she will serve her sentence.Investigating officer PC Georgia Loughton, from GMP, 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."Article continues belowThe force's Bolton district commander, Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley, added: "Our teams have worked alongside the National Crime Agency and Spanish authorities to ensure that Gwinnett is brought back to the UK to face the consequences of her crimes."This arrest highlights our commitment to relentlessly pursue those who commit crimes and exploit vulnerable people in our communities. We will take any necessary action to ensure they face justice."I would like to thank the team for their diligent investigation which led to Gwinnett's conviction and now her arrest. I hope this news offers an element of solace to Joan's family."