A 75-year-old pensioner has appeared before magistrates, facing serious charges of poisoning her neighbour with ant killer insecticide as part of an alleged campaign of targeted harassment. Sally Beaney, of Netley Abbey near Southampton, Hampshire, is accused of maliciously using the insecticide to poison a man on October 13, 2025, with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy him.
Alleged Campaign of Harassment and Obstruction
The court heard that Beaney's actions extended beyond the poisoning allegation. She is also charged with harassment without violence against the same man between August 6 and November 11, 2025. Prosecutors detailed a pattern of behaviour where Beaney repeatedly parked her car to block access to her neighbour's home and placed various obstacles across their shared driveway.
Driveway Dispute Escalates
According to the allegations, Beaney positioned plant pots, wooden structures, and other items to obstruct the shared driveway. She allegedly displayed signs on these obstacles accusing the man of trespassing, wrongdoing, and intimidating delivery drivers and other service providers attending his address. The signs reportedly contained accusations of abuse, threats, and intimidation toward service personnel.
The situation allegedly escalated further when Beaney was accused of making an obscene gesture toward the man and his family, including a child, while they were walking together. This incident added to what prosecutors described as a sustained campaign targeting her neighbour.
Court Proceedings and Bail Conditions
During the hearing at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Monday, Beaney spoke only to confirm her name. No plea has been entered at this stage because the poisoning charge is sufficiently serious that it can only be dealt with at crown court level.
District Judge Anthony Callaway addressed Beaney directly, stating: '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.'
Case Transferred to Higher Court
The judge granted Beaney unconditional bail to appear at Southampton Crown Court next month. The transfer to crown court reflects the gravity of the poisoning charge, which carries potentially more severe penalties than those available in magistrates' court.
Legal experts note that cases involving allegations of poisoning with intent to cause harm are treated with particular seriousness by the justice system. The combination of poisoning allegations with sustained harassment charges suggests a complex neighbour dispute that escalated dramatically over several months.
Neighbour disputes turning criminal are relatively rare but can involve serious allegations when they occur. The case highlights how longstanding tensions between neighbours can potentially escalate to involve criminal charges and court proceedings.
