Student, 22, who was injected with needle on club night out with friends welcomes new spiking law outlined in King's Speech

A student who fell ill after being injected with a needle on a night out has welcomed plans for a new spiking law.

Lily Jackaman, 22, said a planned clampdown on the cruel craze, where a person has their drink secretly plied with alcohol or drugs or is injected, would help victims and act as a strong deterrent for perpetrators.

Miss Jackman, who is studying for a Masters in audio, radio and podcasting at Goldsmiths' College in London, told MailOnline: 'It is too late for me in my case, but I hope the new law will give comfort to victims.

'I hope that they will know they are within their rights to report it to police, and that police and emergency services will know what to do.'

The King outlined the new Government's forthcoming legislative agenda when he attended the State Opening of Parliament today, citing measures to improve the safety and security of public venues, and strengthen the law to improve the police response to spiking.

It is not currently a specific offence, although it can be prosecuted as an assault - something campaigners say is not widely known or understood by victims or emergency services.

But the Government believes making it a standalone offence, punishable by a lengthy prison term, could finally act as a proper deterrent amid concerns spiking is becoming more prevalent.

Lily was out with friends in Surrey in March 2022 when she was injected shortly after entering the venue.

She said: 'We were on the dancefloor and I wanted to get a drink.

'As I got to the bar, I felt a scratch on my right arm.

'There was a lot of information in the press at the time about spiking, and I recognised the feeling of having an injection - it is very distinct.

'Alarms bells went off in my head so I immediately sent a text to my friends who were on the dancefloor, telling them I thought I had just been spiked.

'I went outside with them to get some fresh air because my head was spinning and I was feeling really dizzy. The site of the spiking on my arm was irritated, I was feeling nauseous and I started to get a headache.'

Lily, who lives in east London, said she and her friends went to see paramedics at the venue to explain what happened.

But she was shocked when staff turned her away, told her to stop worrying, and to go home to sleep it off where her condition deteriorated.

The next morning, Lily said she woke with 'one of the worst hangovers' of her life - despite having only drunk two ciders all night.

'I had a dead arm, like from an injection, the room was spinning and I was sick. I felt something was not right,' she said.

Lily phoned the non-emergency 111 service, who advised her to go to hospital.

But, as with the night before, Lily was simply told to go away.

'They dismissed me at A+E and told me to go to the police,' she said.

'They didn't do any blood tests or anything like that.'

But a friend was insistent that something was wrong with Lily, and took her to a different hospital where doctors confirmed she had likely been spiked with a tranquiliser.

Lily took comfort in the fact she had finally been 'taken seriously' - and hopes a new law will do even more to reassure victims.

'The venue said it was just anxiety, then the first hospital turned me away,' she said.

'It was a relief that someone had finally taken me seriously, and that is what I think this new law will do.

'It was so important that someone listened and took it seriously. I would not have gone to the second hospital if my friend had not insisted because I did not want another professional turning me away.

'It was so discouraging that the venue said it was just my anxiety. I had two ciders, I shouldn't be slurring my words and be unsteady on my feet.'

She said the second hospital's diagnosis promtped her to call police, who were 'fantastic, very empathetic'. But despite carrying out DNA swabs, seizing evidence and checking CCTV, they were unable to find the suspect.

'The new law, I think it will help in terms of the medical staff,' Lily said.

'I think I was lucky in terms of the police because I know people have reported being spiked and they were basically dismissed.

'I know people have had their drinks spiked and been spiked with needles. It is really prevalent. 

'It isn't just in the night-time economy, it can be in someone's house, anywhere.

'After seeing the CCTV at the venue, I think clubs need to invest more in it, so it is easier to see what's happening.

'I feel much more confident (with the new law) in the fact that if people are spiked they will get the care they deserve.

'The police and emergency services will work to one procedure, they will know what to do better than now, when there is no specific law, meaning things are a bit hazy in terms of legally and medically. A new law will place a duty on emergency services to take it seriously.'

She added: 'There has been a lot of coverage about this new law, and I think that it will deter perpetrators because the law is catching up, people will see they can go to prison for it.

'A new law will encourage so many more victims to tell someone immediately. Spiking is massively underreported, and a new law will help,' she said.

'The paramedics at the nightclub didn't know what advice to give.

'I have spoken to the venue since and they have changed their security staff and brought in new checks on people's bags, patting down customers as they enter. It's not every time, but it is massively improved on what was before.'

Campaigner Colin Mackie, who founded the charity Spike Aware UK, said he backed a new spiking law.

He said: The number of victims reporting being spiked is growing. A new stand alone offence will give even more victims the confidence to come forward, safe in the knowledge that spiking is a fully recognised crime.

'Victims will feel more secure, that they'll be taken seriously and confident that they'll get the advice and support they need at a difficult time.'

Figures based on Freedom of Information Act responses from police forces in England and Wales last October found there were more than 8,500 reports of spiking made in 2022, compared with around 1,650 in 2018.