A YOUNG woman says she is still suffering from depression and panic attacks after her drink was spiked while she was out clubbing with friends.

Teresa Weston, 27, had been at a Maidstone town centre nightclub for about an hour, celebrating a friend’s birthday, when she began to suffer chronic stomach pains. She rushed to the toilets where she was violently sick.

“I had severe trouble breathing, was sweating profusely and couldn’t stand up,” she added.

She called her mother to collect her from the club – Strawberrry Moons in Gabriel’s Hill – but only made it as far as the exit of the building before collapsing.

She woke up in a hospital bed attached to a drip. Miss Weston, from Ditton, an accounts manager, said: “I’m disgusted that someone would spike a person’s drink.

“I’m still having small panic attacks and get very tired. I’m afraid to go out on my own even if it is just to the shops.”

Her mother, Dorene Weston, called on hospitals to carry out toxicology tests in cases where drink spiking was suspected.

She said the results of the blood alcohol tests provided evidence that she had not been drinking to excess.

Stuart Oldershaw, operations manager at Strawberry Moons, said drink spiking was extremely rare and anyone caught with drugs would be banned for life.

“In the last five years we have had only two alleged incidents,” he added.

“Not only do we have a zero tolerance drugs policy, we also work very closely with the police to ensure there are no problems. “Random drugs tests carried out in the past have been very successful and have shown that Strawberry Moons’ robust approach to combating drugs is working well.”

He added: “We would advise people to never leave their drinks unattended and be responsible in the amount they consume.”

Cases of drink spiking are very rare according to a spokeswoman for Maidstone and Malling Police. She said: “The clubs in Maidstone are very good and take a positive attitude but there is only so much they can do.

"Never leave your drink unattended. We ask that people be vigilant and responsible about the amount they drink to prevent any opportunity for someone to spike their drink.”

Anyone with information about this incident, which happened on Saturday, June 25, is asked to contact police on 01622 608189.