11 Jan 2024
A woman who believes her drink was spiked when she was out on Friday night is urging people to be alert in the city’s pubs and bars.
The victim, who we are not identifying, was watching a friend’s band in a local pub when the incident occurred.
She explained: “We had a couple of drinks and were watching the band and dancing, just two old birds having a giggle.
“Then at about midnight, we both lost any memory of what happened, where we ended up and who we spoke with.
“Somehow in that time I messaged my other half to come and get us, saying I couldn’t see and my friend had lost her bag. I then sent him a WhatsApp message simply saying ‘Help!’, but again, I have no memory of any of this.
“My partner found us outside the pub with some strange man. My friend had collapsed at this point and this man was asking how she was getting home. My friend had to be carried to the car, where again she collapsed on the floor, and we think she managed to crack her ribs. I was still upright, but not lucid at all. My partner got my friend home first, and her husband later found her unconscious on the floor of their home. My partner managed to get me into the house, where I spent the next hour and a half being violently sick and not being able to move, to the point where he was considering calling an ambulance before I eventually stopped.”
She said the venue told her she and her friend are clearly visible on CCTV all evening and nothing suspicious happened during this time.
She added: “I’m not expecting someone to be caught, I just want the pubs to be more aware and maybe provide a cover for drinks if people want them. I’ve had so many messages from woman saying it’s been done to them in different pubs/bars in town, someone will end up raped or worse if it isn’t highlighted.
“It is crazy that no one is safe to go out now. Anything could have happened to us and I just don’t want it to happen to anyone else.”
Sean Hughes from Save St Albans Pubs said: “Spiking is very, very rare in St Albans, but if people suspect they have been spiked they first need to speak to a member of staff who can help them and make sure they are safe, and then get to A&E and get tested within the first 12 hours so we can confirm it’s a spiking incident. Once the police know it’s a confirmed spiking then they can do something about it.
“We are also going to be reprinting spiking posters to raise awareness following this incident, and we hope the two women affected recover as quickly as possible.”
Michael Kill, chief executive officer of the Night Time Industries Association, said: “Spiking is being squeezed quite heavily given the training of bar and door staff, CCTV and security protocols, but it’s a constant battle and we need everybody to be aware of the situation. There are also environments outside licensed premises where this happens so please don’t let your guard down.”
Detectives from the Local Crime Unit are reminding people out on a night out to make sure they never leave their drinks unattended, following the incident. The venue is not being identified while enquiries continue.
Sgt Mark Chipchase from the Local Crime Unit said: “We are carrying out an investigation and will be looking at CCTV opportunities to find out what happened to these women on Friday night. If you were out on Friday and saw anyone acting suspiciously around drinks in any of the pubs, please do contact us.”
The officers work with safer neighbourhood colleagues and licensed premises as well as Pubwatch to help keep people safe on a night out.
Always remember:
– Make sure you keep your drink with you, or with a friend, at all times.
– Keep an eye on your friends and their drinks.
– If you start to feel unwell, seek medical help straight away.
– If you see anyone acting suspiciously by a drink, let a member of staff at the
premises know.
For information on drinks spiking prevention and awareness, visit https://www.herts.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/spiked-drinks-date-rape-drugs/
