Moment 'Black Widow' fraudster who stole £300k from vulnerable pensioner, 89, is detained by Spanish police as she faces extradition to UK after fleeing to Tenerife

Published: 23:11, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 23:15, 17 July 2026 This is the moment a 'black widow' fraudster who conned an elderly woman out of £300,000 before she fled to Tenerife is detained by Spanish police as she faces extradition back to the UK.  Pamela Gwinnett, 63, fled to the Spanish island in April 2025 while she was on bail awaiting trial for her crimes against 89-year-old Joan Green, from Chorley, Lancashire. Preston Crown Court heard that the vulnerable Mrs Green's life savings were plundered by Gwinnett after she became her carer as she controlled her finances and isolated her from her family.  She then spent thousands of pounds on Botox, expensive meals out and a £22,500 car.   Last October, Gwinnett was convicted and sentenced in her absence to six years in jail for theft and fraud by abuse of position but has so far avoided prison time. But yesterday, Greater Manchester Police said Gwinnett had been arrested and will be returned to the UK following assistance from the National Crime Agency and the Spanish authorities. Now, Spanish police have released footage of a handcuffed and tanned Gwinnett wearing sandals and shorts being led away by officers. Spain's top court, the Audiencia Nacional, said Gwinnett was brought before a judge on Wednesday.  Pamela Gwinnett (pictured), 63, fled to the Spanish island in April 2025 while she was on bail awaiting trial for her crimes Spanish police have released footage of a handcuffed and tanned Gwinnett wearing sandals and shorts being led away by officers 'The judge on duty at the moment, Francisco de Jorge, head of Courtroom 1 of the Central Court of First Instance, ordered her imprisonment without bail while the extradition proceedings to the requesting country are under way,' the court said. Sky News tracked down Gwinnett while she was living in Tenerife and confronted her outside her picturesque seaside apartment. She denied stealing from the pensioner, who died in November 2022, and told the channel: 'I don't need to answer these questions. Did I heck take the money.'    Gwinnett flew to Tenerife just hours after a court refused her application to vary her bail conditions to allow her to purportedly scatter her brother's ashes on the island. During the trial, a video secretly filmed by Mrs Green's step-grandson, David Bolton, was played. In the footage, Gwinnett can be seen rowing with Mrs Green's family. 'This is nothing to do with you - I'm power of attorney,' she said. When the family say she doesn't speak for Mrs Green, she yells: 'Yes I do!' Pictured: Pensioner Joan Green who was conned out of £300,000 by Gwinnett. Preston Crown Court heard that the vulnerable Mrs Green's life savings were plundered by Gwinnett after she became her carer She also accuses Mr Bolton of being a 'criminal' and 'grooming' his grandmother. Mrs Green can be heard asking 'what's happening?' as Mr Bolton holds her hand and comforts her. Judge Michael Maher said the video showed Gwinnett's 'self-assured shamelessness' and 'brass neck'.  He sentenced her as if she was present in the courtroom last year. The judge said: '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. 'There was in my judgment a self-assured shamelessness to your fraudulent activity – to use the colloquialism, you have some brass neck Ms Gwinnett.' As part of her scam Gwinnett made a series of false claims against Mrs Green's stepdaughter and stepgrandchild including theft and neglect before she gained power of attorney. Judge Maher said: '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.' Lead investigator PC Georgia Loughton said: '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.'   Gwinnett has made applications to appeal both her conviction and sentence.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.