A young woman has spoken of how she believes she was injected with drugs while on a night out to celebrate Halloween in Newcastle.
Amy-Jayne Cramb was with friends in the city centre nightclub Jalou on Saturday at around 9.30pm when they noticed some men acting strangely close by.
A few minutes later the 23-year-old's pals spotted blood on her Buzz Lightyear costume and realised she had a needle prick on her hand.
She went straight to the toilet where she squeezed and washed the wound, before putting a plaster on it and going to the hospital.
Amy-Jayne, who works as a health improvement practitioner, filed a police report and is currently waiting for the results of blood tests.
Amy-Jayne's terrifying ordeal comes as reports of spiking have increased across the country, prompting authorities and institutions to take action to protect people who want to go for a night out.
Some pubs have installed led 'airport-style' security at the doors and others have scrapped 'ladies' night' over safety concerns.
The increase in spiking reports has also led to a national movement to boycott clubs, which was organised by university students.
She's also appealing for others in Jalou that night who believe they may have been spiked to come forward.
Amy-Jayne said: "Absolute pathetic, sad people out there.
"This should not be a thing you ever night to consider on a night out.
"Pretty much unavoidable unfortunately but please take extra care to look after yourselves and your friends on nights out."
She added: "Jalou has been informed and CCTV is going to be checked by police.
"They're asking anyone with any similar experiences to come forward as this is becoming increasingly more common.
"So if anyone thinks this has happened to them please come forward to help this be stopped.
"Luckily I have been OK as we knew what to do straight away and with this being on my hand I have possibly deflected it if it was meant for a different part of my body but sadly not everyone has been as lucky."
There has been a huge rise in the number of spiking cases in recent weeks. In response nightclubs and bars have been boycotted and demonstrations have taken place at more than 40 university towns and cities across the UK.
Spiking injections, or needle spiking, happen when an unsuspecting person is injected with drugs using a needle.
A spokesperson for the British Transport Police (BTP), who are dealing with the incident due to the bar's proximity to Newcastle's Central Station, said: "The BTP is investigating a report of a woman being spiked with a needle in Jalou Bar at around 9.30pm on Saturday 30 October."
Mirror Online has contacted Jalou nightclub for comment.
