At the age of 84, John Weller faced difficulties adjusting to his new life in a residential home, but his outlook changed with the introduction of Dan, a friendly canine companion.

Having recently relocated to a care home in Chorley, Lancashire, Weller deeply missed his beloved pets, Rocky the miniature schnauzer and Jovi the whippet, which he had left behind.

It was observed by the care home staff that regular interactions with Dan, a golden retriever, had a profoundly positive impact on Weller's mood.

According to Weller, spending time with Dan brings him joy, and he appreciates the opportunity to stroke and feed Dan, which reminds him of his own dogs.

Weller keeps photographs of his former pets in his bedroom and often looks at them, but he also eagerly anticipates Dan's visits.

Upon his arrival at Gillibrand Hall Care Home, staff noted that Weller was experiencing a period of low mood, having had to leave behind his familiar routines and previous home.

However, as Weller formed a close bond with Dan, his confidence began to grow, and the care home staff observed that these interactions also brought back fond memories of his time with his own pets.

Dan's owner, Fiona Hill, described the dog as gentle, although occasionally lively, and noted that Dan seems to have an innate ability to respond to the needs of each resident.

The presence of Dan often evokes strong emotional responses from the residents, with some becoming tearful with joy upon his arrival, and he facilitates the sharing of stories about their own pets, which can initially be emotional but often lead to happy conversations and laughter.

As Dan's owner, Hill expressed pride in the comfort and companionship the dog provides, helping residents to open up and form connections.

The care home manager, Kathy Spencer, revealed that Dan had recently been recognized as employee of the month due to the significant positive impact he has had on residents, including Weller.

Spencer noted that Weller's mood and confidence have shown significant improvement since meeting Dan.

For Weller, the experience of pet therapy with Dan extends beyond anxiety reduction, as it allows him to reconnect with his passion for dogs and reminisce about happy memories.

The strong bond between Weller and Dan provides comfort and calm, highlighting the benefits of pet therapy in care home settings.

A woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering her partner and dismembering her body, which was then buried in a garden over 15 years ago.

It was in 2025 that Anna Podedworna contacted Derbyshire Police, providing them with information that led to the discovery of Izabela Zablocka's remains in a house on Princes Street, Derby.

Podedworna, a 40-year-old resident of Boyer Street in Derby, had a background as a skilled butcher, but her profession did not prepare her for the severity of the crime she committed; she was found guilty of murder by a jury.

On Wednesday, at Derby Crown Court, Podedworna received a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years for her role in Izabela Zablocka's murder.

During sentencing, Mrs Justice Williams KC noted that the evidence presented in the trial highlighted the strong family bonds Izabela shared, particularly with her mother, grandmother, and daughter Kasia.

Izabela maintained regular contact with her family in Poland, but her disappearance was marked by an uncharacteristic silence, particularly when she failed to call her daughter on her 10th birthday, 4 September 2010.

The judge emphasized that Podedworna's actions had a profound impact on Kasia, who was left without a mother and struggled to understand her sudden disappearance.

The judge acknowledged the perseverance of Izabela's family, who never gave up hope of uncovering the truth behind her disappearance, and noted that without their efforts, Podedworna's crimes may have gone undetected.

Podedworna showed no remorse for her actions, and the judge rejected the idea that she deserved credit for eventually contacting the police in 2025, as this was seen as an attempt to manipulate the investigation.

Readers are warned that this article contains distressing details.

The two women had moved to the UK from Poland in search of work and lived together in the Normanton area of Derby.

The last known contact with Izabela was a phone call to her mother in Poland on 28 August 2010, after which she was never heard from again.

According to prosecutor Gordon Aspden KC, shortly after this call, Podedworna murdered Izabela, dismembering her body with a large knife.

Investigators discovered that Podedworna had previously worked as a skilled butcher, a job that involved using large knives to debone and portion turkey carcasses.

The body was then buried in the garden, and a layer of concrete was laid over the grave.

In 2025, Kasia, now an adult, approached Polish TV journalist Rafal Zalewski and asked for his help in investigating her mother's disappearance.

Zalewski confronted Podedworna at her home in Boyer Street, Derby, but she initially denied any knowledge of Izabela's whereabouts.

However, under mounting pressure, Podedworna eventually contacted Derbyshire Police and provided them with the location of the body.

A thorough search of the Princes Street property led to the discovery of Izabela's remains.

In a statement read out in court, Kasia described the traumatic impact of her mother's disappearance on her life.

Kasia recalled being extremely close to her mother and feeling devastated by her sudden and unexplained disappearance.

The experience left a deep emotional scar, and Kasia struggled to cope with the uncertainty surrounding her mother's disappearance.

For years, she wondered why her mother had stopped contacting her, feeling abandoned and unsure of what had happened.

Instead of enjoying her childhood, Kasia was preoccupied with thoughts of her mother and the reasons behind her disappearance.

Despite the uncertainty, Kasia always believed that her mother would not have left her without a reason.

Podedworna claimed to have acted in self-defence, but this was rejected by both the jury and the judge.

Clive Stockwell KC, representing Podedworna, suggested that some unknown event must have triggered her actions, given her previously good character.

Stockwell also highlighted the impact of the sentence on Podedworna's children, who would have to spend a significant part of their lives without their mother.

However, Mrs Justice Williams emphasized that Podedworna's brutal treatment of Izabela's body was consistent with a killing motivated by anger and a deep-seated dislike for her partner.

The judge noted that Podedworna had continued to deceive those around her, including Izabela's mother, her own mother, and the police, about the circumstances of Izabela's disappearance.

This pattern of deception continued over the years, with Podedworna showing no remorse for her actions.

An investigation is underway into allegations of racism against a former Reform councillor in Staffordshire, who recently resigned from their position as group leader just days after being appointed.

Documents obtained by the BBC reveal that the council has referred a complaint regarding councillor Chris Large, a former cabinet member, who allegedly made or endorsed racist comments on his TikTok account, as evidenced by confidential emails.

Due to the complexity and severity of the allegations, the council has assigned an Independent Investigating Officer to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

Councillor Large has denied any involvement in the comments, attributing them to a hacked account, and stated that there were unauthorized logins, resulting in the account's deletion.

Large's resignation as leader and cabinet member for finance was announced last week, citing a family bereavement as the reason for his decision to step down.

This resignation occurred shortly after he oversaw the approval of Staffordshire County Council's £840.8m budget for 2026-27.

Large was slated to succeed councillor Ian Cooper, who had previously resigned amidst allegations of racism, which Cooper has not publicly denied.

At the time of Large's appointment, his party highlighted his extensive experience as a chief executive in the finance and banking industry, spanning over 30 years, as well as his 35-year residency in the county.

According to records from Companies House, Large has been listed as the director of 12 companies over the past 20 years, all of which are currently dissolved.

These companies also list France as Large's country of residence.

Large explained to the BBC that his involvement with the dissolved companies was related to his role in transforming and turning around businesses.

He stated that the closure of some businesses led to the creation of new ones, highlighting the positive outcomes of his work.

In response to Large's resignation, Philip White, the Conservative leader of the opposition, expressed sympathy for Large's family situation while also criticizing his appointment as leader.

White stated that Large's involvement in the racism scandal that led to Ian Cooper's resignation made him an unsuitable candidate for the leadership position.

White emphasized the need for stability in Staffordshire, given the recent turnover of leaders, and hoped that the Reform party could find a suitable replacement from their ranks.

Martin Murray, the acting leader of the county council, had previously thanked Large for his contributions and expressed support for his decision to resign, citing the importance of prioritizing family.

Murray's statement reflected the council's understanding of the personal circumstances that led to Large's resignation.

The Reform UK party has stated that it will not be taking any action against Large regarding the complaints about his social media activity.

The positions of cabinet member for finance and elected leader of the Reform group remain vacant, awaiting new appointments.

A council spokesperson explained that the authority takes all concerns about the conduct of elected members seriously and will address them in accordance with the council's Standards Complaints process and Code of Conduct.

Meanwhile, council members are scheduled to meet and vote on the proposed budget, which includes a 3.99% council tax increase, on February 12.