Spiked drink ordeal of Miss York

From the archive, first published Wednesday 13th Feb 2008.

MISS York was rushed to hospital after her drink was spiked on a night out in the city.

Nineteen- year-old Naomi Smith, from Copmanthorpe, was out with friends at the Revolution bar in York on Friday night, little knowing that in a matter of hours she would be waking up in a hospital bed.

The teen beauty queen has spoken out about her ordeal in the hope that other girls will be made aware of the dangers of drink spiking.

"I remember being quite scared because I didn't know what was happening to me and I couldn't lift my head up. I knew that people around me were talking, but somehow I couldn't tell where the voices were coming from," said Naomi, "It was really frightening. I haven't been to the police yet, but if talking to The Press helps stop this happening to just one other girl it will have been worth it."

Naomi went out at 9.30pm after having a meal and had two glasses of wine to drink. Once in the bar she left her glass with a friend while she went to the toilet.

She said: "When I came back we kept talking and that's really the last thing I remember clearly.

"I had memory blackouts, but remember being in the taxi on the way home, then being on the sofa at home and the next thing I remember is waking up in York Hospital attached to a drip."

Naomi started to pass out in the bar and had to be taken home by her friends shortly before 11.30pm.

Once home she was repeatedly sick and her parents, David and Melanie, realised something was wrong and called the doctor and then an ambulance. At the hospital medics confirmed she had been drugged.

David said: "She was very very scared because it was something she hadn't experienced before. You could tell she wasn't just drunk and there was something really wrong. She was really frightened and couldn't concentrate or focus at all.

"They didn't say what type of drugs it could be at the hospital. We are just glad she was with her friends or anything could have happened."

After tests at the hospital and having been put ona drip to help her rehydrate, Naomi was able to return hom at 5am on Saturday.

Naomi, who is in her second year of studying a classical civilisations and literature degree at Birmingham University, said she only ever drinks from bottles on a night out there because of the danger of having her drink spiked.

She said: "Before all this happened, on the night a friend and me were talking about drink spiking and saying how nice it is to not have to worry about that kind of thing back home in York.

"In Birmingham, you hear about drink spiking happening quite a lot and we have stoppers in our bottles to stop it."

Events Connect which organises the Miss York competition, also supports a drugs awareness campaign which distributes drugs awareness literature at Canon Lee School in Clifton.

Sgt Rick Ball, of York Police, said: "It is difficult to tell whether there is a real problem with drink spiking in the city because a lot of incidents go unreported.

"The first thing anyone should do if they suspect they have had their drink spiked is get in touch with the police."

A spokeswoman for Revolution said: "We work very hard to make our bar a safe environment for our customers and staff.

"With regard to Miss Smith, we will be taking the matter very seriously and doing a full investigation but will be unable to comment further until contacted by the police."

What to do if your drink has been spiked

The Roofie Foundation provides support, help and advice to drink spike victims.

Roofie says you should do the following if you have your drink spiked:

* Immediately get to a place of safety. If you are with close friends tell them of your worries, get them to take you home as quickly as possible

* Once safely home ask them to stay with you until the effects of the drug have worn off.

However, be very sure that you implicitly trust the person or friend you are asking

* Many victims of DFSA (Drug Facilitated Sexual Abuse) have been attacked by people they know, by work mates, colleagues, friends or acquaintances, and in some cases, the person they went on a date with that night

* If you are alone or with a stranger go to the landlord or pub/bar manager and tell them of your fears

* Get the landlord to put you in his private accommodation or an office while they ring a taxi, a trusted friend, or your parents to help get you home safely

* If at all possible always make sure that you are accompanied by a trusted friend.