A NIGHT out in Bournemouth turned sour for IT technician Danny House when his drink was spiked with the notorious date-rape drug GHB on Friday.

The 23-year-old, from Poulner, in Ringwood, was out with several friends when he suddenly became hyperactive and started behaving erratically in a nightclub.

His friends took him outside for some fresh air, but within minutes he passed out and was rushed to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in an ambulance.

When he regained consciousness he suffered a terrifying panic attack and had to be restrained by nurses.

He later tested positively for GHB, also known as "liquid ecstasy" and reported the incident to his local police station in Ringwood which passed on the details to the colleagues in Dorset where the alleged offence occurred.

Mr House thinks his drink was spiked in a pub the group went to before moving onto the nightclub. He said he had no idea why he was singled out for the attack.

"I wasn't having a big night out because I had to pick up a car the next day," he said.

"The after effects and the paranoia were horrible. I just found the whole experience really worrying.

"The doctors at the hospital gave me some advice.

"They said you should buy bottles and keep your thumb over the end all night.

"They also said that you should keep your drink with you at all times and if you leave it, don't come back and drink it - just buy another one."

Many so called date-rape drugs are tasteless and colourless tablets or liquid, which can be slipped into anything from coffee to alcohol.

To those around the victim it appears the person is very drunk - one of the reasons they are used so inconspicuously in pubs and clubs.

But the police stressed that Dorset is a safe place to live and drink-spiking offences are not widespread and are easily preventable.

DC Bryan Colley who spearheaded a countywide drink spiking awareness campaign last year said: "If you think you have been or indeed one of your friends has been a victim if drink-spiking than reporting it to the police is vital."

Dorset Rape Crisis Line can be contacted on 01202 547445.

First published: September 29