Andrew Castle, a broadcaster, has admitted that he was ‘beyond functioning’ after consuming a spiked beverage on a night out. He also revealed that one woman tried to exploit him while he was in distress.
On Sunday morning radio, LBC’s 57-year-old ex-tennis player from Britain recalled the incident that occurred in 2003 while he was out with friends.
He was discussing the issue amid a reported 198 incidents of drink spiking across the UK, plus 24 reports of people who say they have been injected with ‘date-rape’ drugs while at nightclubs and parties, in the last two months.
Andrew Castle, a broadcaster and ex-tennis player, revealed that he believes his drink had been spiked and that he was left with ‘beyond functionality’ while out in London with some friends in 2003.
Castle said to listeners, “I’ve taken an spiked drink.” I don’t know if I was the one who was being questioned or if I was just sharing a drink. We had a great time. We had stags and hens, and everyone was dancing.
There is a big difference between having too much to drink and having your drink spiked. I was beyond function.
‘This woman got into a cab with me – and everyone’s going to say that’s your story – well it was not that comfortable.
‘A woman got into the cab with me and was saying – let me just say – [things that were]Incredibly inappropriate. This one was totally inappropriate.
He also said that he believed that the woman wanted “.”[to take]Advantage and blackmail, and all other things.
Dawn Dines, CEO of Stamp Out Spiking UK (SOS UK) and founder, described the situation to the radio host. He said that the effect on him was that it made him ‘compliant’ and made him more vulnerable to those around.
“You just float around in the mist that this is happening, and it’s not good at all.”
He added: ‘I got really frightened and the adrenalin really kicked in. I became very protective of myself, the situation, and myself. I was out of my element and became very anxious about it all.
Castle, who was at the time a presenter on ITV’s GMTV breakfast program, said that he was affected for the next 24 hour.
“Everyone had leave the house.” I was in agony for the whole day.
The 57-year-old (pictured centre in 2003 with his fellow GMTV presenters) said he was left feeling unwell and ‘rolling around in agony’ after the incident
Last week, Priti Patel, Home Secretary, demanded that police provide an urgent update on the investigation into the scale of the so-called “spiking epidemic” in the UK.
The Commons Home Affairs Committee also asked police chiefs to provide urgent information on how they assessed the problem. This was in response to reports of incidents occurring in several parts the country, including Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Nottingham.
More than 30 universities across the UK have joined an online campaign to boycott nightclubs. Campaigners want ‘tangible changes’ to make them safer. They are looking for better training and covers for staff as well as more thorough searches of the clubbers.
Andrew Castle (pictured with Penny Smith, Kate Garraway in 2003) disclosed the incident amid a spike in drinks being’spiked” and young women being unknowingly injected with drugs
Over the next fortnight, the Girls’ Night in campaign will be spread across 43 universities towns and cities. It is in response to a rise in drinks being “spiked” and a disturbing trend of girls being unknowingly injected with drugs.
Victims may have fallen ill while out and only realized they were being injected when they saw ‘pin pricks’ on their bodies.
Participants in the boycott will remain at home on a designated night to raise awareness about the attacks and encourage security venues to improve security.
Over 130,000 people have signed a petition calling for nightclubs’ legal obligation to thoroughly search all guests upon entry.
A number of women have shared their stories of being spiked in recent days, including Ilana Elbaz (20), who recounted how she was ‘left semiparalysed’ after returning from a Bristol nightclub three week ago.
Ilana El-baz (20) recalled how she was ‘left semiparalysed’ after returning from a Bristol nightclub three week ago
Saturday saw two teenagers aged 18-19 being arrested in Nottingham on suspicion of conspiracy to administer toxins. Meanwhile, a 35-year old man was arrested in Lincoln on suspicion that he had drugs with the intent to administer them.
According to the US National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Rohypnol and GHB are two of the most prominent ‘date rape’ drugs used by criminals.
GHB can cause deep sleep if you take as little as 2g. This is because the drug is often a powder that can easily be mixed into an alcoholic beverage.
The half-life is 27 minutes. It is nearly impossible to detect the drug after 96 hours.
Experts warn Rohypnol can also be used as a powerful sedative, with legitimate uses such as a pre-anaesthetic and a sleeping pill.
It can be used as a rape drug for dates. It can affect victims within ten minutes, and peak eight hours later.
It is tasteless, colourless, and odourless. It causes sedation or euphoria in 20-30 minutes.