A woman was left ‘screaming in pain’ and unable to remember her night after she says she was spiked at a popular Welsh nightclub.
Libby Woolford, from Porth, was out with her boyfriend and some friends in Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taf, when she went from ‘sober to in a complete state’ within minutes.
The 19-year-old had been enjoying a few drinks at The Banc nightclub on Friday, April 25, before her night out took a turn for the worse.
With a small amount of her third beverage left Libby asked her partner’s friend to watch it while she went to the toilet.
She now knows that he didn’t hear her.
Libby returned to finish her drink and just 10 minutes later she started to feel sick.
‘I went to the toilet and for about 20 minutes I was being sick and it was green,’ Libby said.
‘I eventually went back out with friends and one of them was talking to me but I couldn’t understand what she was saying because I was in such a state.’
Much of what happened next is a blur for Libby but she remembers leaving The Banc and planning to go to a friend’s house when she started ‘screaming’ about stomach pain and ‘shaking uncontrollably’.
A 19-year-old woman was left ‘screaming in pain’ and unable to remember much of the night after she was spiked at a popular valleys nightclub. Libby Woolford (pictured), 19, from Porth, was out with her boyfriend and some friends in Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taf, when she went from ‘sober to in a complete state’ within minutes
Much of what happened is a blur for Libby but she remembers leaving The Banc and planning to go to a friend’s house when she started ‘screaming’ about stomach pain and ‘shaking uncontrollably’
Libby had been enjoying a few drinks at The Banc nightclub (pictured) on Friday, April 25, before her night out took a turn for the worse
She also felt like she couldn’t breathe properly. The next thing Libby remembers is waking up in A&E.
Her boyfriend had called Libby’s mum and it took three people to get her into her sister’s car as she was unable to walk.
‘When my boyfriend phoned her she thought that I was just drunk but when she saw me she knew something was wrong,’ Libby said.
She waited a number of hours in A&E after seeing a nurse but decided to go home as she wanted to sleep.
‘I slept all night but the next day my legs were still shaky and I was struggling to walk.
‘I couldn’t keep anything down for a few days.’
She eventually did an at-home drugs test which came back positive.
She said she is feeling better now but has been left ‘in shock’ about what happened. ‘It was really scary,’ she said.
A statement shared on The Banc’s social media page said: ‘In the past week The Banc has been informed of a social media post of a young lady suffering the terrible experience of being spiked.
The Banc management would like to take this time to inform all customers that we take the safety of you and staff above all else. We aim to provide a safe environment for all.
‘After some research we will soon be implementing anti-spike covers for drinks by request at no extra cost.
‘We ask that customers plan trips to the smoking area accordingly so no drinks are left unattended due to the council ruling on no alcohol being consumed in that area.
‘If you have any concerns while on the premises please do not hesitate to ask to speak to a member of the management team.
‘We are part of the community of the Rhondda. We have sons and daughters of all ages and understand all concerns this incident has caused.’
It comes after in December shocking figures revealed a quarter of 18-43-year-olds believe they have been given drugs or alcohol without their knowledge or consent at some point.
Spiking can involve putting alcohol or drugs into drinks, needle spiking – where people are injected – or vape or cigarette spiking, where drugs are put into these products.
Symptoms of spiking include feeling drunk or drowsy, being ‘out of it’ or more drunk than expected, mental confusion, slurred speech, memory loss, loss of inhibitions, nausea, vomiting and breathing problems.
Victims may also suffer muscle spasms or seizures, loss of consciousness or a severe hangover after drinking little or no alcohol.
In new advice, St John said victims should be kept hydrated by encouraging them to drink water little and often, put in a safe place and always have somebody with them.
If a person thinks they have been spiked, they or a friend should alert bar staff and the police, including reporting any suspicious behaviour.
If the victim becomes unresponsive, others should put them in the recovery position and call an ambulance.
Members of the public should also know how to do CPR in case somebody stops breathing.
Their poll of 2,000 people across the UK revealed 23 per cent of 18-43-year-olds felt they had ‘definitely’ been spiked, rising to 41 per cent including those who believe they have ‘possibly’ been spiked.
The organisation’s medical director, Dr Lynn Thomas, said: ‘Our latest research shows this awful crime continues to blight people’s social lives when they are simply wanting to go out and enjoy time together.
‘While we fully support all efforts to prevent and prosecute spiking incidents, St John aims to teach people how to care for one another when the worst happens.
‘Recognising the symptoms of spiking is a critical first step in that care and will help protect victims from further harm.
‘Staying with a spiking victim, monitoring them and being ready to give first aid could save their life. We’re urging people to equip themselves with that knowledge.’
