Fugitive fraudster Pamela Gwinnet arrested in Tenerife
Pamela Gwinnet, a fugitive fraudster who stole 300,000 pounds from a pensioner, was arrested in Tenerife after being tracked by Sky News.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Pamela Gwinnet, a fugitive fraudster who stole 300,000 pounds from a pensioner, has been arrested in Tenerife and flown back to the UK. She was sentenced to six years in prison for defrauding Joan Green, a vulnerable pensioner, of her life savings. Gwinnet used the money on Botox treatments, expensive meals, and a 22,500 pound car. After being sentenced, she fled to Tenerife and remained on the run for more than a year.
Sky News tracked Gwinnet down to an apartment complex in Los Cristianos, Tenerife, earlier this year. When confronted, she showed no remorse and claimed the family had stolen the money. Last night, Greater Manchester Police and National Crime Agency officers arrested her at Manchester Airport as she was brought back to the UK. She was seen putting on sunglasses in an apparent attempt to shield herself from cameras.
At Preston Crown Court today, Gwinnet appeared in the dock and had two months added to her existing six-year sentence for absconding, meaning she will serve a total of six years and two months. The prosecution highlighted the cost and time taken to bring her back to the UK.
Joan Green's family expressed relief and gratitude. David Bolton, Joan Green's step-grandson, said Gwinnet caused "an immense deal of stress upset heartache" and that his grandmother died under Gwinnet's control. He praised Greater Manchester Police and Sky News for raising the case. His wife Rebecca noted that Gwinnet showed no remorse in court. The family said they were finally satisfied that justice had been served.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Sky News |
|---|---|
| Pamela Gwinnett stole £300,000 from a pensioner's life savings, was sentenced to six years in prison, and was arrested at Manchester Airport after being flown back from Tenerife. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News coverage is self-referential, emphasising its own role in tracking down the fugitive. The first broadcast focuses on the dramatic airport arrest and the chase, while the second covers the sentencing and includes an emotional interview with the victim's family. The tone is dramatic and moralising, using phrases like 'tale of greed and cowardice'.
- “It's a tale of greed and cowardice Pamela Gwinnet the runaway fraudster whose Sky News Tracked down to Tenerife earlier this year is now finally back in the UK after more than a year on the run”
- “Well, it's a real tale of greed and cowardice Pamela Gwinnett the fugitive fraudster who Sky News tracked down to Tenerife Earlier this year has today finally been jailed after more than a year on the run”
- “She's causes an immense deal of stress upset heartache Along with the suffering that she endured on my nan herself who unfortunately dies Under the control of Pamela Gwinnett”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.