Woman, 75, seems in courtroom accused of poisoning neighbour with ant killer in row over shared driveway

A pensioner has appeared in court charged with poisoning her neighbour with ant killer.

Sally Beaney, 75, is accused of ‘maliciously’ poisoning her neighbour with the insect killer amid a campaign to target him.

Beaney is also accused of harassing him by repeatedly parking her car to block access to his home, and placed plant pots, wooden structures and other obstacles across their shared driveway to block access. 

The defendant allegedly placed signs on the obstacles accusing the man of intimidating delivery drivers.

Beaney, of Netley Abbey, near Southampton, Hampshire, is charged with maliciously using ant killer to poison a man on October 13, 2025 ‘with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy’.

She is also charged with harassment without violence of the same man between August 6 and November 11, 2025.

Beaney is accused of displaying signs on or near the obstacles across their shared driveway, accusing him of trespassing and wrongdoing, abusing, threatening, or intimidating delivery drivers and other service providers attending his address.

The court heard she was accused of making an obscene gesture towards the man and his family, including a child, while they were walking together.

Sally Beaney, 75, is accused of ‘maliciously’ poisoning her neighbour with the insect killer amid a campaign to target him

Beaney, spoke only to confirm her name during the hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

No plea has been made at this stage, as the poisoning charge can only be dealt with at a crown court.

District Judge Anthony Callaway told Beaney: ‘This matter has to go to the Crown Court. I think you were so informed before this was called on.

‘I am going to grant you unconditional bail to the Crown Court as I have indicated.’

He gave Beaney unconditional bail to appear at Southampton Crown Court next month.