'Getting spiked made me afraid to go out'

A 21-year-old says she is now "too scared to go out" after she believes she was spiked at a club.

Tia Jennings was celebrating her birthday at the Bierkeller in Maidstone on 10 January with family and friends when she lost the ability to walk or see, collapsed and was rushed to hospital.

"I don't feel safe going out anymore," she said. "I can't enjoy my life."

Epic Bars, which runs the Bierkeller, declined to comment.

The BBC has seen emails where the company offered to check CCTV and asked for information so it could identify any potential suspect.

Epic Bars also told Jennings' mother they would cooperate fully if police decided to launch an investigation.

Jennings told the BBC all she could remember of the night was dancing with one of her friends.

However, her mother, Jenny Jennings, was there and described the incident as "absolutely terrifying".

"It happened in a split second," she told BBC South East.

"She was talking with us, laughing and joking - then she became this different person."

Jennings said her daughter was "totally out of control" and could not stand up.

"She was screaming for me and I was there. It was like she could not see or hear."

Jennings said what happened to her daughter was "so out of character".

"She knows her limits," she said.

She told the BBC she was left "riddled with guilt" that she could not protect her daughter, but added: "I'm glad it happened when I was there.

"What would have happened to her after?

"It just doesn't bear thinking about."

Kent Police said it was investigating what happened to Jennings, which was first reported on by Kent Online.

Insp Steve Kent says the force "takes every report of spiking extremely seriously".

"Officers work quickly to support victims and establish whether any offences have taken place," he continued.

Kent called on people to stick with friends and let security staff know if they see anything suspicious at a bar or club.

"If you believe you may have been the victim of spiking, report it to police as soon as possible," he said.

"This will give our officers the best chance of recovering evidence and bringing offenders to justice."

Jennings' family took her to hospital, where she said staff told her it appeared she had been spiked because of her pupils, although she did not have any tests.

The 21-year-old said she was sharing her story "to make others aware".

She is warning people going out to have "their wits about them".

"Be very, very careful - watch your drinks," she said.

Jennings is urging others to not be "scared to speak up" if they think they have been spiked.

"It is not being reported enough," her mother added.

Symptoms of spiking can include memory loss, confusion, loss of ability to communicate, and hallucinations, officers say.

Spiking is illegal under separate laws, according to police.

It is not a specific offence, however the government is moving to pass the Crime and Policing Bill that creates a new administering a harmful substance offence which covers incidents of "spiking".

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