{mosimage} An 80-year-old ex-lecturer, said to be at his wit’s end because of his wife’s dementia, has been detained under the Mental Health Act after killing her. Frank Rhoden admitted the manslaughter of his “beloved” wife Marian, 83, strangling her days before their golden wedding anniversary in March this year.

His barrister at Mold Crown Court called it a “deeply tragic case”.

Ex-headteacher Mrs Rhoden, who moved to Penrhyn Bay from Manchester 25 years ago, had been ill for several years. Robert Trevor-Jones QC, prosecuting, told the court that the couple had been married almost 50 years and had one son, Walter, who worked as a consultant cardiologist.

“Their son speaks of both as being devoted to each other,” he said. “He described each of them as being intelligent and thoughtful and the defendant in particular adopted a strong ethical code.”

Fostering agencies of North Wales are calling on local farmers to help find caring homes for children in care. Statistics from the Fostering Network show that in March 2005, there were 3,194 children living with foster families in Wales. There were approximately 1,900 foster families. The Fostering Network estimates there is a shortage of at least 750 foster families in Wales.

Trials are being carried out in mid Wales to see whether daffodils could be farmed there to produce a compound used to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The compound called galantamine has previously been collected from plants in the wild and has been found to slow down the progress of the disease. A six month trial on seven sites in the Black Mountains is currently under way. As well as offering a cheaper drug source, farmers say it could also be a welcome means of diversification.

Mental health services used by hundreds of people in Newport – and around 20 jobs – are safe following a successful campaign to maintain annual funding of more than £250,000.

The Social Care Accolades 2007 have been announced by Mutale Nyoni, Chair of the Care Council for Wales. Following the huge success of the Social Care Accolades in 2005 work is underway for the next event in 2007. The Accolades are awards offered every other year to recognise and celebrate good practice in learning and development in social care throughout Wales.

Nightmares haunting Craig Sweeney’s terrified young victim have sparked a new investigation into the shocking sex abuse scandal. Wales on Sunday can today reveal that the Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched a fresh probe following a new complaint into South Wales Police’s handling of the controversial case.

Gwent’s top detective says children as young as 10 are using cannabis. Chief Superintendent Ray Wise told the Argus that by the time some children left primary school, they were “aware of drugs and have used drugs”.

A police force criticised for its supposed liberal stance on drugs was yesterday accused of ordering officers to stop logging intelligence about drug dealers because they had already hit the annual arrests target. The HM Inspectorate of Constabulary claimed that two divisions within North Wales Police were “instructed” not to enter the information on the force computer as further arrests would lead to a higher target the following year.

Women fleeing domestic violence in parts of south east Wales will have to move “a long way away” unless more refuges are set up, say aid workers. Currently there is no refuge in Blaenau Gwent and the refuges in Newport, Monmouthshire, the Rhymney Valley and Torfaen face increasing demand.

Doctors at Wales’ largest casualty department have expressed concerns over the number of patients suffering side-effects from cocaine use. Official estimates show the five per cent of adults in Wales have used the drug, more than the UK average.