OAP ant killer 'poisoner' admits assaulting neighbour with 'late-stage cancer'

By ANDY DOLAN, GENERAL REPORTER Published: 12:22, 7 August 2026 | Updated: 12:23, 7 August 2026 A pensioner who was previously charged with poisoning her neighbour with ant killer has today admitted assaulting him.  Sally Beaney, 75, left cancer-suffering neighbour Matthew Perry with swelling on his eye and a 'mild corneal injury', a court heard.  Beaney admitted to causing assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Mr Perry, who has 'late stage cancer' and shares a driveway with the defendant, on October 13 last year. Annabel Hazlitt, defending, told Southampton Crown Court that the incident had been caught on camera. Beaney, of Southampton, had previously been accused of 'maliciously' poisoning Mr Perry. At a hearing in May, Beaney denied an accusation that she set out to harm Mr Perry.  Her barrister James Kellam said: 'Her defence is one of self- defence or accident.' Today the court heard Beaney will not be dealt with for that alleged offence.  Her not guilty plea to a charge of maliciously using ant killer to poison a man on October 13, 2025, 'with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy' would now lie on the file in case a similar incident occurs in the future. Sally Beaney outside Southampton Magistrates Court at an earlier hearing Mrs Beaney's property with the blue front door was shares a driveway with neighbour Matthew Perry's home A charge of harassment has been dropped. Prosecutor Gaylene Coles said: '(Mr Perry) is certainly at late-stage cancer, so he is still with us if I can put it in those terms.' Talking about the damage to his eye, Ms Hazlitt said: 'In terms of his eye in relation to this offence, it says there seems to be a mild reaction in the right eye, there is a little bit of swelling in the left eye. 'There is relatively mild corneal injury.' Ms Hazlitt said: 'Ms Beaney is now 75. She has got no previous convictions.' She said that prior to sentencing Beaney will be assessed for a mental health treatment requirement. Judge Nigel Peters KC said: 'I think this should be dealt with at sentencing hearing. It is a neighbour dispute that has gone very badly wrong for this defendant.' Beaney remains on unconditional bail and will be sentenced on September 18.