A needle-spiking victim is urging others to be vigilant after she was attacked on a night out.

Aimee Hunt, who lives in Middleton. said it was important other young people were aware that incidents were happening locally and not just in larger towns and cities.

The 18-year-old said she had been out with her sister and friends in Whitby last Saturday night when the attack took place.

“We had gone out to a couple of bars and then to a nightclub. I’d only had three drinks but was already stumbling about and can’t remember anything after that until I woke up in bed the next morning.

“My sister said I had been laid out in the back of the taxi home – thank goodness she was there to help me out.”

Aimee said she had only noticed a mark on her arm the next day.

“My arm ached and felt very heavy so I took my jumper off and that’s when I saw the puncture mark.

“I certainly didn’t feel anything at the time so I’ve no idea when or where it happened.”

Aimee was taken to Scarborough Hospital where she was tested for HIV and Herpes and is now waiting for the results.

“I was told that the type of drug injected only stays in your system for 12 hours, so by the time I got there it wasn’t traceable.

“However, the staff say my symptoms, including feeling heavy headed and shaky, were signs I was reacting to the drug.”

Aimee, who only turned 18 in March, said that due to Covid-19 restrictions she had only been able to go out to bars and clubs for a few months.

“I will certainly not be going out again to crowded places,” she added.

“I am lucky I got home safely but I certainly wouldn’t want to risk it again.”

The term ‘needle spiking’ relates to a number of incidents of people reportedly being injected with a substance without their knowledge or consent.

It’s believed that the same drugs used to spike drinks are used in needle spiking. These include Rohypnol (roofie) or Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), also known as date-rape drugs.

Aimee said she had reported the incident to the police and had been advised by hospital staff to share her experience.

“I want to raise awareness to warn others that this sort of thing is going on around here and people shouldn’t think it just happens in bigger towns and cities.”

Aimee, who is a student at Askham Bryan College, and hopes to eventually join the police force added: “I just hope this never happens to anyone else.

“Please be so vigilant and careful when you’re in crowded places with people walking by, as this is just on the back of my lower arm. Such a scary experience.”

As of October 23, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) had collected 198 reports of drink spiking in September and October, in addition to 56 reports of incidents involving a needle.

Anyone with concerns about an incident should contact police on 101.