‘Black Widow’ carer arrested at airport as she returns to UK to be jailed after she kept OAP like ‘animal’ & stole £300k

A FRAUDSTER dubbed “the Black Widow” has finally been arrested after she returned to the UK to face justice for her crimes. Pamela Gwinnett, 63, stole £300,000 from her “cash cow” Joan Greene and fled the country before she could be brought to justice. Pamela Gwinnett was arrested by our officers at Manchester Airport yesterday evening Credit: GMP Gwinnett conned an elderly grandmother out of almost £300,000 Credit: Solarpix She absconded to Tenerife and for the last year has been sunbathing and relaxing at her holiday home, The Sun revealed. Greater Manchester Police worked with the National Crime Agency to track down Gwinnett and start the legal process of bringing her back to the UK. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The 62-year-old was escorted by GMP officers from the Terminal 3 arrival lounge at Manchester Airport into a police van. Gwinnett was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison in her absence in October 2025 for a variety of offences including fraud by abuse of position and theft. Gwinnett isolated Joan from her family, convincing the pensioner that her own relatives were stealing from her Credit: Solarpix Gwinnett was previously taken into custody by Spanish police Credit: Solarpix Originally from Adlington, Cheshire, the fraudster systematically plundered thousands from retired accountant Joan after setting herself up as the pensioner’s carer. She persuaded the 89-year-old to appoint her Lasting Power of Attorney before stealing the money. A court was told how Gwinnett made false accusations against Ms Green’s family and isolated her by changing the locks and the landline phone number at her gated bungalow in Chorley. Carers who visited the house witnessed Gwinnett “barking” at the pensioner and neglecting her basic care needs. Most read in The Sun One physiotherapist said Mrs Green lived like a caged animal. She also “connived to isolate Joan from her family and friends.” Gwinnett then spent money she stole from the “frail” 89-year-old on an Audi Q2, expensive meals, designer clothes, mortgages and Botox. When Mrs Green asked why her family no longer visited, Gwinnett said they ‘weren’t good enough.’ She made up false allegations against family members and claimed to have the support of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Tragically, Joan died in 2022 after spending her final years being “bullied” by the woman who was supposed to be caring for her. But her neighbours had no idea. She continued to steal money from Joan, 89, even after the pensioner passed away. The carer was then arrested for fraud by abuse of position and theft but released on bail. She then applied for permission to fly to Tenerife, claiming she needed to scatter her brother’s ashes, which the court refused. But five hours later, she was on a plane and fled the UK. The Sun previously revealed the fugitive was hiding in plain sight, flaunting her freedom by sunbathing and going to bars in Tenerife. She was living in a penthouse apartment in a sunny town on the south-west coast of Tenerife, according to locals. It has since been locked up and the outside furniture taken in. It is understood she also owns another apartment, which The Sun found on various holiday let websites priced at £112 a night. The lavish seaside property has access to a pool, “stunning views”, a balcony, a big TV and a more than 8 out of 10 rating on a booking website. During her sentencing, Judge Michael Maher said he knew “full well” she was in Tenerife and told her: “You have treated this process as you did Joan Green with utter contempt.” He added: “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.” Following her arrest in Spain, Officer in charge of the investigation, 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.” Gwinnett will appear at Preston Crown Court later today relating to her previous failure to appear at court.