Fraudster arrested in Tenerife after scamming elderly woman out of £300,000

A cruel and manipulative fraudster dubbed the ‘Black Widow’ after conning an elderly woman out of nearly £300,000 and then fleeing to Tenerife has finally been arrested.

Pamela Gwinnett, 63, treated frail and vulnerable Joan Green as a ‘cash cow to be miked’ – even stealing her money after she died in November 2022.

Gwinnett, who claimed to be the 89-year-old widower’s friend and carer, isolated her from her family and accused them of mistreating her.

She used the cash to make ‘substantial’ mortgage payments, enjoy slap-up meals and get Botox treatments.

Gwinnett was found guilty of fraud and theft by a jury at Preston Crown Court last year.

But she skipped bail and flew to Tenerife before the trial even started, meaning she has yet to serve a single day of the six-year sentence imposed in her absence.

Spanish police have now released footage showing a tanned Gwinnett in handcuffs.

She now faces being extradited back to the UK to start her prison sentence.

Spanish police went public with more details of the Tenerife arrest today without formally naming Gwinnett as they revealed she had been held in the resort town of Los Cristianos and owned a villa there.

In their first comments since the detention, a National Police force spokesman said: ‘Officers have arrested a fugitive in southern Tenerife who was wanted by the UK authorities for a fraud offence committed against an elderly woman.

‘The events described caused significant public outrage and strong condemnation among the British public due to the method used and the victim’s extreme vulnerability, eventually gaining attention in Spain.

‘After being located in Tenerife, on July 14 National Police officers received the International Arrest Warrant issued by the British authorities.

‘She was arrested just a few hours later in the town of Los Cristianos, Arona, where she owned a semi-detached villa and was living her daily life as normal.’

It was not immediately clear if Gwinnett had indicated whether she consented to extradition or would try to fight a forced return back to the UK.

She is likely to delay but not impede that return by contesting extradition.

Gwinnett fled to Tenerife in April last year.

The judge who convicted her in her absence went on to make a confiscation order against her, putting the fraudster’s home in Adlington, Lancashire, at risk.

Her trial was told she discovered Joan was wealthy having worked as an accountant, while her husband had been a senior manager at British Aerospace.

‘Both had worked hard during their working lives, and they had invested carefully and shrewdly for their old age,’ Judge Michael Maher said.

‘But to you, Joan Green was simply a cash cow to be milked until she was dry.

‘And so having inveigled your way into their lives behind the charade that you were a benevolent friend to Joan, you set about playing the long game to isolate and control a vulnerable woman and thereby enrich yourself.

‘The masquerade was so successful that she made you a lasting power of attorney within a relatively short time of knowing you.’

While claiming to care for the pensioner, she was also isolating Joan from her friends and family by lying that her closest relatives were stealing her pension money.

She went so far as to move Joan into a care home near where she lived in Adlington to keep her close when Covid hit in March 2020.

When the country emerged from lockdown a year later, Gwinett took Joan back to her own home in Chorley – but padlocked the gates and changed the landline number to protect her ‘golden goose’.

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.’

Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley, said: ‘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.’