A woman who believes she was spiked with a needle has been left ‘disappointed’ by the police’s investigation after she was told CCTV was “too long to look through”.

Molly Hargreaves, of Geoffrey Barbour Road in Abingdon, told the Oxford Mail in Novemeber that she believed she was spiked by injection on a night out in the town.  

The 19-year old had been out celebrating Halloween with friends and she visited: The Brewery Tap, on Ock Street; The Grapes, on High Street; The Kings Head and Bell, on St Helen Street and Crown and Thistle, on Bridge Street.

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Miss Hargreaves realised she may have been spiked when she started to feel unwell and later noticed a bruise appear on her arm near a puncture mark.

She described being ‘dazed out’ and she was unable to walk the 20 minute journey back to where they live together as she was ‘really wobbly’, so she had to be ‘pushed home in a trolley’.

The incident was reported to Thames Valley Police and at the time the force said it was investigating a report of a “potential needle spiking incident”.

Miss Hargreaves has since said the investigation has been “so disappointing” and she has been made to feel as if she should “be the person to investigate it”.

She recalled how the police told her they were not going to check the CCTV as the time frame she gave could be inaccurate and it was “too long to look through”.

Miss Hargreaves added she provided the police with a urine sample but it did not get tested as it was too long after the incident.

She said: “The police officer who spoke to me said they had spoken with the detective who said to stop the case as there was no point in watching all of the CCTV. They said if there is another new case they will reopen mine.  

“I feel like I have to be the person to investigate it and like I have to find the CCTV and the person. It’s so disappointing, it feels like the police will only care when something serious happens after somebody has been injected or spiked.

“These people could carry on doing it and they’re not getting any consequences.”

Miss Hargreaves case came as concerns about spiking incidents grabbed national attention following a spate of spiking by injections in clubs across the country.

On October 27, students in Oxford boycotted clubs and bars, citing the ‘incredibly worrying trend’ as the reason for the protest.

‘Spiking’ refers to when someone is given alcohol or drugs without their knowledge, usually in a drink. A person may be spiked for the intent of stealing from the victim, assaulting them sexually or physically or as an attempted joke.

Rohypnol (or Roofie) and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) are the most commonly known ‘date-rape’ drugs which spike drinks and are used to commit physical and sexual assaults against a victim.

Spiking by injection instead describes the act of one person spiking another, but instead of using a drink, it is done through a needle.

In early October, a young woman believed she was spiked through her drink when she was out with friends on George Street in Oxford.

Also in Novemeber a third woman thought she was spiked and like Miss Hargreaves this appeared to be via needle. 

Miss Hargreaves told the Oxford Mail that since the incident she has been left worried that people are out to hurt her.

She said: “I haven’t been able to go out since. I went out once with my boyfriend, but I could only stay out for about 30 minutes. I felt like people were way too close and they were going to attack and hurt me. They were probably perfectly normal people but I just didn’t feel safe.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “Thames Valley Police received a report of a needle spiking incident after the victim had visited a number of bars in Abingdon on Saturday 31 October.

"An investigation has been conducted following a number of lines of enquiry. That investigation has now concluded and will be filed pending further information coming to light."

The spokesperson added: "We wouldn’t wish to respond specifically to a complaint through the media, however if someone is not satisfied with the service they have received, they can report it to the Force through our formal complaints process.”

The spokesperson also said: "Thames Valley Police are working closely with venues and partners to make sure they are aware of the measures they can take to ensure the safety of those who attend their pubs and clubs. We are also asking them to be vigilant and report any instances of drink spiking to us so we can investigate and take any action against offenders.

"We will continue in our patrols of the night-time economy to provide reassurance to the public and support to venues. We would encourage anyone who feels that they may have been spiked to raise it to security staff within venues, or if they have come outside of a venue to one of our officers. 

"We take any reports of spiking seriously and will investigate all proportionate lines of enquiry into such crimes.”

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