'People said I was just drunk after I blacked out on a night out - but I was spiked'

Ellen Baldwin believes she was spiked with a needle at a nightclub last month. The 19-year-old Criminology student and her friend were taken to A&E after completely blacking out and collapsing. But Ellen said she was told by medics that she would 'have to come back when she was sober'. Here, in her own words, the Keele University student opens up to OK! magazine about her terrifying experience in Stoke-in-Trent in a bid to raise awareness of spiking. A doctor also advises on what to do if this happens to you...

“The night started out at the Student Union bar, but it was boring so we decided to go to a nightclub.

We’ve been there a few times so I felt perfectly comfortable walking in with my friends, including my boyfriend, Aedan, 20, who’s also a student.

It was just a regular night out, with the six of us. Making up for those long pandemic months of staying in.

I’d had a couple of vodkas at the Union bar, but I wasn’t remotely tipsy entering the club. It was moderately busy and I didn’t notice anyone looking particularly shady as we went to order at the bar.

READ MORE: Woman spiked by needle at Popworld says she 'just thought it was a cut'

We had a couple of drinks and danced for a bit. Apparently I went to the toilet with my friend, Elle, and she says, while we were in there I threw my vodka and lemonade over the cubicle. Those drinks are £6 each – I would not be wasting them in normal circumstances!

I have almost no recollection of the rest of the evening. The next thing I remember is sitting in my bed at my dad’s house. I was totally confused and when I inspected myself I found a clear injection mark on my upper left thigh.

Later it would turn slightly yellow as a bruise does. I’ve had plenty of injections