Weymouth man tells of horrific spiking experience in Dorset

A Freedom of Information request has revealed that across the whole of Dorset, Weymouth and Portland received the second highest number of spiking reports – falling just behind Bournemouth.

Eleven incidents of spiking were reported to police across Weymouth and Portland between May 2023 and May 2024.

Spiking is when someone puts alcohol or drugs into another person’s drink or body without their consent or knowledge.

People can also be a victim of ‘needle spiking,’ which is injecting someone with drugs without their consent.

Bournemouth received more than triple the reports of spiking than Weymouth and Portland, with 39 incidents reported to police.

The Dorset areas with the lowest number of reported spiking incidents were Dorchester and 'east Dorset.'

Dorset spiking statistics May 23 - May 24 (Image: NQ/ Canva)

Overall, during this period, 63 incidents of spiking were reported across Dorset.

This is more than three times the amount of cases reported during 2023 as 19 were reported.

Throughout 2022 however, a whopping 149 cases of spiking were reported to Dorset Police and 120 in 2021.

A man from Weymouth has shared his experience of being spiked whilst studying at university.

Due to the nature of the incident he wanted to remain anonymous.

He described being spiked as ‘humiliating’ and despite not remembering what happened, the man was told that he was ‘found by a group of people near a bus stop, passed out in a pile of his own vomit,’ and that his wallet had also been stolen.

He said: “I was at university, and I had gone out with my friends to an event at a bar.

“I hadn’t drunk a lot before I got there, and I had maybe two or three drinks from the bar.

“Suddenly I remember what felt like I was going in and out of consciousness, I remember being kicked out of the bar, but I don’t remember anything afterwards.

“I have never once before blacked out from drinking and never have since, I knew something was different.

“I was apparently found by a group of people near a bus stop, passed out in a pile of my own vomit. My wallet had also been stolen.

“I don’t remember any of it.”

The man recalled that for the whole of the following week he had become severely unwell.

He said: “When I woke up, I remember feeling the worst feeling of sickness.

“I felt humiliated, I felt ill, and I felt awful.

“For the next week I was sick, I had a headache, and I could not eat.

“I was quite lucky in a way. I don’t know why I was spiked; I assume it may have been to steal my wallet, but way too many people are spiked for much worse reasons.

“It made me very careful about leaving a drink alone, watching my drink and looking out for my friends. I would not wish it on anyone.”

Spiking someone could be a number of criminal offences, which can carry sentences of up to ten years in prison; even when no other offence, like theft or assault, has happened.

If you think you or a friend have been spiked, there are a range of things to look out for, including:

• Confusion
• Nausea or vomiting
• Hallucinations and paranoia
• Disorientation or poor coordination
• Loss of ability to communicate properly
• Unconsciousness

It can be difficult to spot the symptoms as they vary depending on what you have been spiked with and can be similar to having excess alcohol. If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you thought you should be, seek help straight away.

Additionally, if you think you or a friend has been spiked it’s important to tell someone as soon as you can. 

• Alert a member of staff or security if you're at a venue.
• Stay with your friend and keep talking to them.
• Don’t let them go home on their own or leave with someone you don’t know.
• Report to the police online, via 101or, in an emergency, call 999. 

If you or someone else have symptoms, if you are worried call 111 and call an ambulance if the symptoms get worse.

If you think there may have been a sexual assault involved, police also advise people to visit their nearest sexual assault referral centre (SARC) for specialist care and support.

The Weymouth Street Pastors are also there to help, listen and provide care for people on a night out.

They are a group of volunteers who provide support for night-time revellers and anyone on the streets on Friday and Saturday nights.

The volunteers have issued the following advice on staying safe on a night out:

Stay together - When moving between venues or even when inside a venue ensure everyone stays together and looks out for each other, especially anyone who may be feeling upset or unwell.

Protect your drinks - At all times look out for each other’s drinks, when going to the toilet or dancing do not leave them unattended.  Lots of the bars and venues now give out free spikey’s and stopp tops to cover your glass or bottle.

Stopp top (Image: Weymouth Street Pastors)

Set a designated meeting place - Before your evening starts, prepare a designated meeting place and a time.  This could be Safe Space.  Should you become separated you can all meet back together at the designated time.  Ensure your mobile phones are well charged before leaving home.

Drinks and vapes from strangers - Do not accept a drink or a vape from someone you don’t know, especially if you do not see the drink being poured. Do not go anywhere unfamiliar with a stranger especially if you are feeling unwell.

Feeling unwell - If you or a friend feels unwell stay with them.  If you think they’ve been spiked let the bar of door staff know.  Do not let them wander out of a venue and go off on their own. Accompany them to Safe Space if you can.

If your Friday or Saturday night not does not go to plan, then the Weymouth Street Pastors are around from 9.45pm-3am and are there to support you.

The team can be found at Safe Space, which is based in St Mary's Church, Weymouth which can be entered via Maiden Street, and they also patrol the town centre.

Door staff at venues are also able to contact the street pastors.