A woman convicted of defrauding a vulnerable pensioner has been returned to the UK and landed at Manchester Airport following an extradition from Tenerife. Pamela Gwinnett, 63, who was sentenced in 2025 to six years in prison for offences including fraud by abuse of position and theft, was arrested by Spanish police before being placed in the custody of the National Crime Agency (NCA) and escorted to local officers.
Arrival at Terminal 3 and custody transfer
Gwinnett arrived at Terminal 3 and was escorted from the arrivals lounge into the rear of a police van, flanked by armed NCA officers. Photographs from the scene show her wearing a leopard-print jacket and sunglasses as she was placed into custody and handed to Greater Manchester Police (GMP). She remained silent when asked about an apology to her victim's family and whether her decision to abscond would affect her sentence.
Details of the offending and impact on the victim
Court reporting states Gwinnett posed as a carer for Joan Green, an 89-year-old retired accountant from Chorley, Lancashire, during the Covid pandemic. She obtained Lasting Power of Attorney and is said to have taken almost £300,000 from the pensioner. While Ms Green's money was spent on cosmetic procedures and expensive meals, carers visiting the bungalow reported neglect and behaviour described in court as ‘barking’ at the victim and isolating her from family and friends.
She was said to have told Mrs Green that her relatives ‘weren’t good enough’ when the pensioner questioned their absence.
Local implications and enforcement
The case underlines ongoing concerns about exploitation of older people in the region and the role of protective powers such as Lasting Power of Attorney when abused. The NCA’s involvement and the cooperation with Spanish authorities show cross-border policing co-ordination was required to return the convicted offender to the UK to serve her sentence.
- Victim: Joan Green, aged 89 (Chorley, Lancashire)
- Convicted: Pamela Gwinnett, aged 63; sentenced to six years in prison
- Stolen amount: almost £300,000
- Returned to: Manchester Airport (Terminal 3), then into GMP custody
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Sentence length | 6 years |
| Age of offender | 63 |
| Approx. sum taken | £300,000 |
| Victim age | 89 |
Local campaigners and social-care professionals have long warned about the ways in which carers can exploit isolated older people. Although this report relates to a specific criminal conviction and extradition, it highlights questions for Manchester’s own health and social care oversight bodies about safeguards, monitoring of those granted powers of attorney and the resources available to spot and prevent abuse.
GMP and the NCA led the UK custody arrangements on arrival. The matter will now continue through the prison and probation systems as Gwinnett serves the sentence imposed by the courts in 2025.
