A thirty-seven year old gay man has appeared in court charged with attempting to poison his lesbian neighbours.
Gary Stewart – whose partner died after a brief illness this summer – admitted the charge of attempted poisoning at Manchester City Magistrates Court.
On 22 September, Stewart arrived at the Denton home of Marie Walton and Beverley Sales to offer the couple some leftover curry, which the couple accepted. Upon closer inspection the curry was found to be laced with poison.
The pair telephoned police and Stewart was arrested immediately.
The attempted poisoning is believed to have been a marked escalation in hostilities between the couple and Stewart, who among other allegations is believed to have abducted the couple’s cat.
Neighbours of the couple have said the poison plot left them distraught.
“It has been nothing short of a nightmare,” one neighbour said, adding: “I hope this brings things to an end because what those two girls have had to endure these past years has been horrendous.
“He was abusive to them and made their lives a misery.”
Stewart has denied the secondary charge of threatening to kill the couple. The case has been adjourned until a later date.