A woman who fled to Spain after stealing nearly £300,000 from an elderly woman she cared for is set to be extradited to the UK to begin serving a six-year prison sentence, BBC reported.
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Pamela Gwinnett, 63, absconded to Tenerife while on bail ahead of her trial over the exploitation of Joan Green, 89, a retired accountant from Chorley, UK. She was convicted in her absence last October of theft and fraud by abuse of position after failing to return to court.
Greater Manchester Police said Gwinnett has now been arrested in Spain and will be returned to Britain following a joint effort involving the National Crime Agency and the Spanish authorities.
Investigators said she abused her position as Green's carer, gradually taking control of the pensioner's finances and isolating her from family members before draining almost £300,000 from her savings. Joan Green died in November 2022.
Detective Constable Georgia Loughton, who led the investigation, said officers hoped Gwinnett's return would bring a measure of justice to Green's family as they continue to rebuild their lives.
The court previously heard that Gwinnett left for Tenerife in April 2025 just hours after a judge refused her request to change her bail conditions so she could travel to the island, where she claimed she wanted to scatter her brother's ashes.
During sentencing, Judge Michael Maher said Gwinnett had deliberately manipulated and exploited a vulnerable woman for financial gain. He described Green as having been treated like "a cash cow" and said the fraud had been carried out with "self-assured shamelessness".
The judge said Gwinnett had spent years gaining Green's trust before isolating her and enriching herself at the pensioner's expense.
As part of the scheme, Gwinnett made false allegations of theft and neglect against Green's stepdaughter and stepgrandchild before securing power of attorney over the victim's affairs.
Stolen money was used to support an extravagant lifestyle, including the purchase of a £22,500 car and luxury beauty and Botox treatments.
At the time of sentencing, Judge Maher said he hoped Gwinnett would eventually be returned to Britain, adding that allowing her to remain in Tenerife would be "an affront to justice and the rule of law".
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