Warning over spiked drinks

CLUBBERS and pub-goers were today urged to beware after two women are believed to have had their drinks spiked on nights out in two Suffolk towns.

A 29-year-old woman and an 18-year-old woman needed medical treatment after spending evenings in Stowmarket and Needham Market.

Neither suffered any long-term effects, but police are now investigating the matter to see if their drinks had been spiked with alcohol or noxious substances.

The two reported incidents took place last Saturday.

Dectective chief inspector Jon Brighton, of Suffolk police, said: "Although there have been no proven cases of a noxious substance being put in drinks in Suffolk, it's only sensible to advise the public to be mindful.

"We're in the process of conducting tests to see if these women had something placed in their drinks. Until we can be certain nothing untoward has occurred, we'd like to remind people to be vigilant when in pubs and clubs."

Det Ch Insp Brighton said it is important not to leave drinks unattended, never accept them from strangers and think carefully before going off with someone you have just met.

National research has found the most common drugs used to spike drinks are Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) and Gamma-Hydroxy Butyrate, both of which are colourless and tasteless.

Both are sedatives and have been used to seduce victims for the purposes of rape and or sexual assault.

They drugs have the "advantage" of disturbing the victims memory to the extent that they frequently cannot recall events. Men and women have fallen victim to the ploy.

There have also reports of drinks being spiked with ecstasy, although a tablet would be unlikely to dissolve fully and be detectable.

Have you had your drink spiked? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk