Reports of Nottingham nightclub needle attacks prompt investigation

Zara Owen said she had drunk less than usual on the night it happened

A student who believes she was injected with a needle during a night out says the experience has left her "genuinely really scared".

Zara Owen, 19, said she blacked out shortly after arriving at a nightclub in Nottingham on 10 October.

The next thing she remembers is waking up in her bed with pain in her leg before discovering a pin prick.

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed it was looking into multiple reports of people being "spiked physically".

Ms Owen, who is studying French and Spanish at the University of Nottingham, said she recalls going into Pryzm nightclub with her friends and ordering a drink at the bar.

She has no further recollection of the evening but was told by her housemate she was found on her own in a takeaway.

The student, who said she had drunk less than usual and had never blacked out before, said she was shocked to subsequently discover the pin prick mark in her leg.

"I'm genuinely really scared. It's one of those things that you hear about but never think will happen to you," she said.

"It makes you question yourself. Why me and how?"

She called for security to be bolstered at nightclubs with extra bag and pocket searches.

Ms Owen later discovered a pin prick mark on her leg

Meanwhile Ellie Simpson said her sister, who does not want to be named, also believes she was injected with a mystery liquid during a night out in Nottingham.

She said the 19-year-old - who is a student from Derby - felt a "pinch on the back of her arm" as she left Stealth nightclub on 12 October.

She then blacked out and was taken to hospital.

Ms Simpson, 21, said: "I don't think it's quite yet sunk in what's happened to her.

"It's really frightening because I don't know how you're meant to prevent it.

"Obviously you can put your hand over your drink but how do you stop somebody stabbing you with a needle?"

Ms Simpson said her sister was still "in shock" and has not been out clubbing since.

"Normally she's the type of person that would stick up for herself, so I think if it could happen to her it could happen to somebody who is more vulnerable," she said.

A Stealth spokeswoman said the venue was working with police

Nottinghamshire Police said it had been made aware of similar incidents in the city over recent weeks.

Supt Kathryn Craner said: "We are currently investigating reports of individuals suspecting that their drinks have been spiked.

"Linked to this a small number of victims have said that they may have felt a scratching sensation as if someone may have spiked them physically."

"We do not believe that these are targeted incidents.

"They are distinctly different from anything we have seen previously as victims have disclosed a physical scratch type sensation before feeling very unwell.

"This is subtly different from feelings of intoxication through alcohol according to some victims."

The force said a 20-year-old man had been arrested "on suspicion of possession of class A and class B and cause [to] administer poison or noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve and annoy" following an incident in Lower Parliament Street on 16 October.

The man has now been released on bail.

'Change needed'

Stealth nightclub confirmed it had received two reports within the past two weeks from customers who thought they may have been spiked by a needle.

A spokesperson said: "Both were seen by our on-site medic, and we are currently liaising with police to aid in their investigations."

The nightclub said reports of spiking were taken very seriously and staff would continue to carry out thorough searches and capture CCTV footage to aid police investigations.

A spokesman for Rekom UK, which owns Pryzm, said: "While these incidents are incredibly rare, we take all reports of this nature very seriously and will do all we can to make sure that they don't happen in our clubs.

"We urge anyone who sees suspicious behaviour, or suspects they have been a victim of spiking, to seek assistance immediately from a member of staff.

"We would also encourage them to contact police, so that any allegation can be properly investigated."

Meanwhile concerned female students in the city have set up a group and are planning a nightclub boycott next week to put pressure on venues to do more to prevent spiking.

A spokeswoman said: "We want to raise awareness and implement some changes."