A 75-year-old woman has avoided prison after admitting to spraying ant poison into her neighbour’s eyes in a dispute over parking. The incident took place in Southampton, where Sally Beaney and her neighbour, Matthew Perry, had shared a driveway for 15 years before tensions escalated last year.

According to the prosecution, the dispute began in June 2025 over a lawnmower. Following this, notices appeared warning Perry that he was parking in the wrong place. Perry initially believed he had permission to park near the property but later moved his vehicle to the road after realising this was not the case. Despite this, Beaney reportedly obstructed his parking by placing objects in his way and was said to have filmed Perry’s family from her home while shouting at them.

On October 13, 2025, Beaney sprayed ant poison into Perry’s eyes, an act that caused minor chemical burns and a mild corneal injury. Perry, who is living with late-stage cancer, reported that Beaney told him “no one would believe him” due to her being an older woman.

At Southampton Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Rowland described the offence as “calculating” and “deeply unpleasant.” Beaney pleaded guilty to causing assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The judge sentenced her to a 12-month prison term suspended for two years and imposed a restraining order. Additionally, she was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

The case highlights how a seemingly minor neighbourly dispute escalated into a harmful confrontation, with legal authorities taking a firm stance despite the offender’s age. The court’s decision reflects a balance between recognising the severity of the offence and considering the circumstances leading to a suspended sentence and community service.