A woman who defrauded an elderly pensioner of nearly £300,000 is set to be extradited to the UK after being apprehended in Tenerife.

Pamela Gwinnett, known as the ‘Black Widow’, deceived 89-year-old Joan Green into granting her Power of Attorney, allowing Gwinnett to manage her finances. Gwinnett exploited this authority to drain Green’s life savings, splurging on luxuries like Botox treatments, a pricey car, lavish meals, and mortgages for her own properties. Meanwhile, Green was kept isolated in Gwinnett’s residence in Lancashire, resembling a captive.

Gwinnett also fabricated accusations against Green’s family, altered locks, and changed the phone number at Green’s home, severing her ties with loved ones. Despite efforts to revoke Gwinnett’s Power of Attorney in 2022, she established a joint bank account with Green to continue siphoning money, totaling almost £300,000 amassed by the pensioner and her late husband.

After Green’s demise in 2022, Gwinnett absconded to Tenerife, where she was convicted in absentia and sentenced to six years in prison by Preston Crown Court. She was also ordered to reimburse the stolen funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Gwinnett’s extradition is underway, facilitated by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the National Crime Agency (NCA), and Spanish authorities.

GMP officer PC Georgia Loughton commended Gwinnett’s impending return to the UK for her crimes against Green, emphasizing the breach of trust and manipulation the victim endured. Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley affirmed the commitment to pursuing justice for vulnerable individuals exploited by criminals like Gwinnett. The arrest signifies the relentless efforts to uphold justice and provide closure to Green’s family.