Pamela Gwinnett to be extradited after Spain arrest
Pamela Gwinnett, the Chorley carer who stole nearly £300,000 from vulnerable pensioner Joan Green, has been arrested in Spain and is to be extradited to the UK to serve a six-year jail sentence for theft and fraud by abuse of position, imposed in her absence last October. Greater Manchester Police said her return follows assistance from the National Crime Agency and Spanish authorities.
Key Takeaways
- Pamela Gwinnett, 63, was arrested in Spain after fleeing to Tenerife while on bail.
- She was convicted in her absence and jailed for six years for theft and fraud by abuse of position.
- She plundered nearly £300,000 from 89-year-old Joan Green of Chorley, Lancashire.
- Police and the National Crime Agency are arranging her extradition back to the UK.
The case has drawn national attention for its mix of betrayal, flight, and a long-awaited arrest. For more strange and shocking true-crime twists, see our Bizarre News & Florida Man coverage.
Who is Pamela Gwinnett and what did she do?
According to BBC News, Gwinnett became carer to Joan Green, a retired accountant from Chorley, and controlled her finances while isolating her from family. Preston Crown Court heard she treated the pensioner as a “cash cow,” funding an extravagant lifestyle that included a £22,500 car plus expensive beauty and Botox treatments.
As part of the scam, she made false claims of theft and neglect against Green’s stepdaughter and stepgrandchild before gaining power of attorney. ITV News reported she also blocked contact with grandchildren and great-grandchildren while stripping the life savings. Green died in November 2022, before seeing justice done.
How did Pamela Gwinnett flee to Spain?
Gwinnett flew to Tenerife in April 2025, hours after a court refused to vary her bail so she could supposedly scatter her brother’s ashes on the island. She later denied the theft when confronted outside a seaside apartment, telling reporters she did not take the money.
In October 2025, Judge Michael Maher sentenced her in her absence as if she were in the courtroom. He called her conduct a “self-assured shamelessness” and said it was an affront to justice for her to remain in Tenerife.
When will Pamela Gwinnett be extradited to the UK?
Greater Manchester Police confirmed she has been arrested and will be returned to serve her sentence. PC Georgia Loughton said officers hope the move gives Joan’s family a sense of justice as they try to move on.
Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley said teams worked with the National Crime Agency and Spanish authorities to bring Gwinnett back, stressing a commitment to pursue those who exploit vulnerable people. No public date for her physical return has been announced beyond confirmation that extradition is under way.