carer

A MANIPULATIVE fraudster who fleeced an elderly woman out of almost £300,000 before fleeing to Tenerife is facing down a six-year prison sentence.

Pamela Gwinnett, 62, continued to steal money from Joan Greene, 89, after the pensioner passed away, treating her as a “cash cow to be milked.”

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Gwinnet claimed she was the grandmother’s carer but isolated frail, vulnerable Joan from her family.

She accused family members of mistreating the widow and did everything she could to keep them away while she fleeced her “golden goose.”

She would steal hundreds of thousands of pounds from the elderly woman, using the money to pay for botox and expensive meals before fleeing to Tenerife after getting caught.

Gwinett denied charges of fraud and theft but was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court.

After discovering ex-accountant Joan was wealthy Gwinett concocted a lie, convincing Joan that her family were stealing from her pension.

Gwinett even moved Joan into a care home to keep the pensioner close when Covid hit in March 2020.

After the pandemic ended she took Joan home but padlocked the gates of her bungalow and changed the landline number in a bid to stop Joan’s family from getting in touch.

A court heard that the last months of Joan’s life had become “pock marked with increasing periods of bewilderment and confusion.”

Joan also became doubly incontinent, but instead of looking after the elderly woman Gwinett “bullied” her.

Gwinett would cover for Joan’s professional live-in carers for two hours a day, billing the pensioner for the time.

Judge Michael Maher said: “On one occasion, [one of the carers] found to her horror that you had left Joan covered in her own faeces in bed at the end of your two-hour shift.

“On another occasion, you barked at her to relieve herself in her incontinent pad.”

Eventually one of Joan’s carers became so concerned that she arranged for Joan’s family to visit.

The meeting sparked a massive argument with video from the incident featuring Joan complaining that she doesn’t know what’s going on.

Footage also picked up Joan mentioning money problems despite her being a well off woman.

By the time Gwinett’s power of attorney over Joan was suspended she had already robbed £161,000 from the pensioner.

She even managed to steal a further £119,000 by opening a joint account and transferring Joan’s cash into that.

Judge Maher said Joan’s family “are devastated by the fact that Joan in the fog of her deteriorating mental health may well have believed the lies you were pedalling and made her isolation all the more solitary and lonely.”

Joan’s step-daughter Katherine Farrimond, 65, said Joan believed in her final years that her family “hated her” and “didn’t want to see her’” because to Gwinett’s “lies.”

In April, Gwinett applied to vary her bail conditions so she could fly to Tenerife, saying she hoped to scatter her late brother’s ashes there.

Her request was denied but she still brazenly boarded a plane just hours later and has remained there since.

The judge added: “I sincerely hope that Ms Gwinett is extradited back to the UK to serve this sentence for these egregious offences.

“It is an affront to justice and the rule of law for this defendant to be allowed to remain in Tenerife.”

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A CRUEL carer splurged £10,000 she stole from a patient’s dementia-stricken wife on fake tan, KFC and cigarettes.

Danielle Houghton helped herself to the 91-year-old’s bank card while she was meant to be looking after her bed-bound husband.

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Houghton, 32, blew the cash on trips to tanning shops, gambling sites and Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions.

She also spent it at Sports Direct and KFC, and used it to buy petrol, cigarettes and alcohol over a three-month period.

Her scheming was only exposed three months later when the victim’s children noticed the transactions and alerted police.

Houghton has now been jailed for two years and nine months after pleading guilty to theft and fraud by false representation.

Sadly, the victim and her husband passed away before they could see Houghton brought to justice.

Preston Crown Court heard the heartless thief was meant to be caring for the 92-year-old man when she targeted his wife.

Footage showed Houghton at various stores and cash machines spending the stolen money.

The woman’s son said in a victim impact statement: “‘Something bad has been done to me, but I cannot remember what it is…’

“That heartbreaking phrase was my frail, vulnerable, and deeply upset Mum’s constant refrain.

“‘Something bad has been done to me’. She carried that desolate anxiety to her grave, unable to quietly enjoy the tranquillity of her home and garden in her final months, haunted by a distress she couldn’t resolve.

“Danielle Houghton’s criminal actions have also regrettably tarnished the reputation of care providers in a sector already facing immense challenges.”

Houghton stole a total of £9,773 with much of it withdrawn from cash machines, and tried to take a further £800.

DC Peter Bennett of Lancaster Criminal Investigation Department said “Houghton’s selfish actions against a vulnerable lady are despicable.

“I welcome the prison sentence handed down to her which not only punishes her actions, but sends out a clear message to others who might be tempted to offended in a similar manner.

“Their mother died not knowing that the person responsible for taking half her life savings had faced justice, and their father also died during the course of the investigation, which increases the suffering of the family.”

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ONE in three Brits expect to become an unpaid carer – within the next decade on average – but almost half admit they wouldn’t know where to turn for support when the time comes.

A poll, of 2,000 adults, found 62 per cent worry they will have to provide increasing levels of care for elderly parents, or loved ones, as their health declines.

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Yet 46 per cent remain unaware of the services available for those who can no longer leave their homes.

And only 39 per cent are confident that they’ll know where to ask for help.

The research was commissioned by Specsavers Home Visits, as part of its Most Valuable Portrait campaign, which celebrates the unseen role of unpaid carers through a portrait by acclaimed artist Colin Davidson.

Featuring carer Jaycee Le Bouche, the portrait aims to spotlight carers’ selflessness and dedication, and has been symbolically ‘valued’ at £184 billion – the same amount as the invisible care system in the UK – by auction house Roseberys.

Chris Smith, director of Specsavers Home Visits, said: “When a loved one becomes ill, it can turn your life on its head – both practically and emotionally.

“Many people become carers overnight, with no training and little idea where to turn, which can be overwhelming, especially while juggling work and a personal life in tandem.”

The study also revealed two thirds (67 per cent) feel unpaid carers do not receive the recognition or support they deserve – even though their contribution is worth an estimated £184 billion a year to the UK economy, according to Carers UK.

Despite this significant number, almost half (47 per cent) underestimate the contribution of unpaid carers by billions.

When asked what they associated most with being an unpaid carer, 68 per cent pointed to cooking, cleaning and other household tasks.

A further 67 per cent said helping with washing, dressing and mobility is a key responsibility, while 62 per cent believe managing medical appointments – including eye tests and hearing checks – plays a major part.

The research also revealed two in three regularly think about whether they may one day need care themselves.

And 43 per cent said a major life event would be the trigger to begin such conversations with loved ones.

A third (34 per cent) would feel more comfortable discussing future care if they knew what options were available, according to the survey, conducted via OnePoll.

While 29 per cent would be more open if they had a clearer understanding of the financial impact of not planning ahead.

Chris Smith added: “Unpaid carers shouldn’t have to do it alone.

“That’s why we’re doing our bit through our Home Visits service – delivering essential eye and ear care at home to help ease the load and support both carers and those they look after.”

LEGENDARY British actor Tim Curry was seen on a rare outing in Los Angeles today, 13 years after suffering a major stroke.

The 79-year-old was spotted leaving Gelson’s supermarket wearing a red sweater, matching trainers, and black trousers.

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Also sporting dark sunglasses and clutching a paper bag, Tim was pushed in a wheelchair by his carer.

Tim’s 2012 stroke left him partially paralysed on one side of his body and affected his speech.

The health crisis forced him to step away from acting and public life for several years.

A celebrated actor, Tim is known for his charismatic performances in film, television, and theatre.

He became a cult icon playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

His other notable roles include Wadsworth the butler in the cult classic Clue and Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s It.

The stroke had a severe impact on Tim’s mobility, leaving him reliant on a wheelchair and carers for support with everyday tasks.

Since 2012, Tim has undergone extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation to regain as much movement and speech as possible.

He has kept a low profile in recent years, rarely seen in public and not active in major acting projects.

However, Tim has made some notable appearances and engaged with fans through interviews and virtual events.

In 2015, almost three years after his stroke, he made a rare public appearance at the Actors Fund Tony Awards Viewing Party in Los Angeles.

There, he received a lifetime achievement award and spoke openly about his recovery, highlighting how maintaining his sense of humor was vital to coping with his health challenges.

More recently, since 2023, Tim has participated in virtual video chats with fans through conventions like GalaxyCon.

He has also shared occasional video messages on social media, providing insight into his life post-stroke and answering fan questions about his recovery and career.

In addition to these appearances, Tim marked a notable return to acting in 2024 with a role in the horror film Stream – his first feature film role in 14 years.

The film was released in select theaters in August 2024.

He has also remained active in voice acting, lending his talents to animated series and projects, further demonstrating his enduring passion for performance.

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