A 51-year-old woman who believes her drink was spiked at a “quiet bar” in Cornwall says she didn’t report what happened because she felt “overwhelming shame”.

Hannah Stratton says she realised something was wrong when her legs began feeling like lead, and felt “embarrassed” when others assumed she was drunk.

Giving evidence to a Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry, Mrs Stratton said she thought she was “far too old” to be spiked, but believes she was targeted “for fun”.

She decided not to report what happened to police because “it would have been another journey to have to go through and I don’t know if I would have been strong enough to be judged”.

The committee also heard from 19-year-old Zara Owen who described the “agonising pain” that left her limping after she believes she was spiked by injection.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

She says: “The fact that someone has injected a narcotic into my body without me being aware is terrifying.”

Mrs Owen says she spoke out because she wants to make people aware of a new form of spiking, after reports last year of people being drugged by injection.

Prince Andrew: Judge refuses to throw out Virginia Giuffre’s sexual assault lawsuit against royal

Prince Andrew: Trial looms for the Duke of York as judge’s ruling puts any hope of reputation rebuild on ice

Boris Johnson apologises after admitting he attended Downing Street garden party for 25 minutes in lockdown

Chief executive at the Alcohol Education Trust, Helena Conibear, told the inquiry that spiking prosecutions are “extraordinarily low”, and people fear not being taken seriously.

Mother warns of drink spiking danger after posting video of daughter, 18, in hospital unable to walk or speak

Mrs Conibear says prevalence rates are particularly high at house parties and the LGBTQ+ community are often targeted, but says: “It can be any drink in pretty much any location and it can happen to any person.”

She added that collecting data is very challenging, but research suggests there were just nine spiking charges in 2019 and eight in 2020.

Alexi Skitinis, whose drink was also spiked, told the inquiry he didn’t report what happened because he was embarrassed and felt as a man “it wouldn’t be acknowledged as much”.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Mr Skitinis went to hospital three days after being spiked and had “severe issues” with his kidneys and liver.

He says he didn’t drink alcohol for nearly two years because what happened “took away the enjoyment of going out”.

Mrs Stratton told the committee she wants there to be an anonymous online system for reporting spiking cases and less tolerance for spiking in bars.

She says the experience left her feeling “totally and utterly powerless” and the emphasis should never be on victims keeping themselves safe.

Read more: Man jailed for spiking drink in London pub with intention of sexual assault

Related posts:

England fans urged to ‘drown out boos’ when players take the knee at Euro 2020 – but Scotland opt for different gesture New rail pass and vouchers for tourist attractions part of tourism recovery plan Fans break through security barriers and run into Wembley ahead of Euro 2020 final How the England and Italy players rated in the Euro 2020 final ‘It starts at the top’: PM’s burka comments highlighted amid condemnation of football racism Hospital admissions could peak at 1,000 to 2,000 a day during COVID third wave, scientists believe Man shot dead after armed officers stopped vehicle near Kensington Gardens Over-30s in England invited to book third coronavirus jabs from Monday – as Omicron cases continue to rise Girl, 11, dies after chemicals found at block of flats in London ‘One of the biggest days’: £700m contracts for offshore Scottish wind farm projects awarded Man who randomly attacked five people in Manchester shopping centre with knife sentenced Man jailed for 1990 rape of teenager out walking her dog – and victim ‘didn’t know if she would live or die’