A 75-year-old pensioner, Sally Beaney, has avoided jail after deliberately spraying ant-killer into the eyes of her terminally ill neighbor, Matthew Perry, during a dispute over parking. The incident took place on 13 October 2025 in Southampton, Hampshire, when Beaney, who shares a driveway with Perry, sprayed ant-killer into his eyes as he left his home. Perry, who has late-stage cancer, suffered swelling in his eye and a mild injury to the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. He was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for minor chemical burns and given antibiotics and painkillers. Beaney admitted to causing "assault occasioning actual bodily harm" and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and received an indefinite restraining order. The court heard that Beaney had an "obsession to control" the situation, blocking Perry’s parking and placing items like plant pots in the driveway throughout the summer. She also reportedly filmed Perry’s family from her home and shouted at them as they came and went. Perry, who has lived in Southampton for 15 years with his wife Lucy and their two children, said the conflict began in June 2025 over a lawnmower. After that, he received notices about parking in the wrong place. He realized his mistake and began parking on the road, but Beaney continued to block his space. Perry described the attack as sudden and shocking, saying the stress of dealing with Beaney may have contributed to his terminal cancer diagnosis. He expressed concern for his young son’s safety, warning that if the boy did something Beaney disliked, she might take action against him. Defending Beaney, her lawyer, Edward Armitage, described the case as a dispute between neighbors that escalated into something more serious. He asked the court to accept an apology on her behalf. Judge Nicholas Rowland acknowledged Perry’s courage in speaking out and condemned the act of spraying ant-killer in Perry’s face as a deeply unpleasant offense. The judge noted that Perry’s time was especially precious due to his illness and hoped Beaney had listened carefully to his testimony. Although the judge had to suspend the sentence due to legal guidelines, he emphasized the seriousness of the offense.