Beware

CHARLOTTE Harker believes the date rape drug GHB was used to spike her drink during a night out in Swindon.

Although she had only been drinking in moderation, Charlotte collapsed, was violently sick and could not speak.

Luckily, the 29-year-old from Abbey Meads was with friends, who were able to look after her, but she can't help thinking about what could have happened if she had been alone.

Now Charlotte is backing a police campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of sedatives like GHB and Rohypnol being slipped into drinks over the festive period.

The drama started at the end of the night when Charlotte and her friend, Sam Richards, 31, ordered a couple of Cokes.

The drinks were left unattended while they visited the toilet.

Charlotte did not feel drunk at this point she had consumed six bottles of Miller lager, which is five percent strength, but it had been over a four hour period.

She drank her Coke, but her friend left her's.

Charlotte, who works for a tour company in Burford, said: "We both went outside to wait for my boyfriend to pick us up.

"I felt fine when we got into the car, but five minutes later I just collapsed and was totally out of it.

"I couldn't speak and I was being sick.

"My boyfriend thought I was drunk, but my friend knew something was wrong.

"I was terrified because I knew what was going on around me, but I couldn't speak or move." It took her a day to fully recover.

Charlotte was so concerned she contacted her doctor, who said the symptoms bore all the hallmarks of GHB.

She is backing the Has Your Drink Been Spiked? campaign launched in Swindon last week.

The police are distributing posters and flyers to pub, bars and clubs to highlight the dangers of date rape.

She said: "If it stops just one person from being a victim then it has done its job. It scares me when I think of what could have happened, I would have been powerless to stop anyone."

GHB, a liquid sedative, was outlawed in June, and dealers face up to five years in prison.

In large doses it acts as a stimulant, but in smaller quantities it produces an anaesthetic effect, which can put people into a coma.

Like other date-rape drugs, it is odourless and tasteless.

Drugs like Temazepam and Valium can also be crushed and slipped into drinks.

Geoff Hicks, licensing officer at Swindon police, gets around one call a month from people who believe their drinks have been spiked.

He said: "Licensees and pub-goers need to be aware that people who appear to be very drunk may have had their drinks tampered with."

Spiking a drink with a sedative is illegal under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act and carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

What to do if you think your drinks spiked

Find your friends and go somewhere safe.

Get someone you trust to take you home and get them to stay with you.

If you are on your own ask the pub or club manager or doorstaff for help.

Dont let a stranger help you, it could be the person who spiked your drink

Call the police.

Tamash Lal