An individual who deceived an elderly pensioner out of nearly £300,000 is set to be extradited to the UK after being apprehended in Tenerife.
Pamela Gwinnett, known as the ‘Black Widow’, exploited 89-year-old Joan Green by posing as her caregiver and manipulating her into granting Power of Attorney, thereby gaining control over her finances. Gwinnett misappropriated the retired accountant’s savings for personal luxuries, including Botox treatments, a high-end car, lavish meals, and property expenses, while confining Mrs. Green at her residence in Lancashire.
Following Mrs. Green’s demise in 2022, having been exploited for financial gain, Gwinnett fled to Tenerife, defying a court order that prohibited her from traveling there. She was convicted in absentia at Preston Crown Court, receiving a six-year prison sentence and being instructed to repay the stolen funds.
Local authorities collaborated with the National Crime Agency and Spanish officials to track down Gwinnett in Tenerife and commence the process of repatriating her to the UK for incarceration. Investigating officers expressed satisfaction at her impending return, emphasizing the severity of her actions in defrauding a vulnerable individual and disrupting family ties.
The arrest of Gwinnett underscores law enforcement’s dedication to pursuing perpetrators who exploit vulnerable individuals, with the hope that her detention will offer some closure to Mrs. Green’s family.