A carer has been sentenced in abstentia to six years in prison after cruelly swindling a granny out of her life savings. Pamela Gwinnett, 62, was not in court for the sentencing, having fled to Tenerife while out on bail.
She kept retired accountant Joan Green as “a caged animal”, cutting her off from family and friends so she could pilfer almost £300,000 from the vulnerable widow. The court heard how she changed the landline phone number and padlocked the gates of Mrs Green’s Chorley bungalow, instructing carers to deny access to family members. Social services were even provided with false reports that family members were robbing the frail 89-year old and making threats against her.
She claimed her allegations were backed by Chorley MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle in an attempt to furnish her claims with a veneer of credibility.
Investigations would later reveal her allegations were entirely unfounded and that the exploiter was Gwinnett.
Judge Michael Maher read out the sentence at a hearing at Preston Crown Court, despite Gwinnett’s absence – according to Lancs Live.
“You provided little to no care at all,” he said. “You bullied her and she was frightened of you. In short, she was under your thumb.”
The court was told that Gwinnett persuaded Mrs Green to make her Lasting Power of Attorney in 2019, giving her complete access to her finances.
She then proceeded to abuse her position to take money from her client’s savings to pay for Botox and beauty treatments, as well as to support her extravagant lifestyle.
Gwinnett was seen “barking” at the 89-year-old by other carers, when they visited the bungalow and neglecting her basic needs.
One physiotherapist said Mrs Green lived like “a caged animal” and when the pensioner asked why her family no longer visited, Gwinnett replied they “weren’t good enough.”
Mrs Green’s family were able to revoke Gwinnett’s Power of Attorney in 2022, but she was still able to gain access to the widow’s money by persuading her to open a joint banking account in both their names.
Gwinnett stole a total of £296,173.68, which had been saved by Mrs Green and her late husband Stanley, a retired senior manager at British Aerospace.
Mrs Green’s stepdaughter, Katherine Farrimond, said: “One of the most upsetting things is that through her actions, Joan and my father are in unmarked graves. Gwinnett has been uncooperative with the probate process and I have been unable to give Joan and Stanley the dignified burial they deserve.
“Pamela Gwinnett manipulated Joan to steal her money. Despite all efforts from myself, my son David and other family members, she spent her last years believing we hated her. We didn’t see her due to the lies and fraud of Pamela.
“I am devastated Joan passed away, most likely believing the lies Pamela was telling her, because she was loved by so many people and deserved to know that.”
Gwinnett, of Greenfield Road, Adlington, was arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position and theft and was granted bail.
In April 2025 she applied to vary her bail conditions to travel to Tenerife, to scatter her brother’s ashes.
Her application was refused but within five hours of appearing at Preston Crown Court – and being told she must remain in the UK – she was on a plane to the Canary Islands. She did not return to stand trial and was convicted in her absence.
