Parents of Scots teen who died at university call for action on 'prank spiking'
The parents of a tragic Scots teenager are calling on the government to close a loophole so prank spiking becomes a criminal offence.
Mandy and Colin Mackie, both 63, lost their son Greg in a suspected drink spiking and want to ensure all cases are prosecuted.
The Crime and Policing Bill, which has had its second reading in the House of Commons, will make spiking a standalone crime with a maximum prison term of 10 years, reports The Mirror.
But prosecution will require proof of specific intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy. And the law will not cover prank spiking – which is viewed as acting recklessly or being negligent, but not with intent.
Greg was 18 when he collapsed in his halls of residence on November 26, 2017, while studying Film and Media at Edinburgh University.
A toxicology report found he had the equivalent of five ecstasy tablets in his system but no trace of alcohol. No one has ever been prosecuted.
Mandy, who runs the charity Spike Aware UK with Colin, said: 'A lot of the time it is a prank. Those doing it think it's funny and maybe they're on a night out and they think, 'Let's liven them up'. But it's not funny and a lot of victims end up with mental health issues. There's a big knock-on effect, so why is the perpetrator allowed to get away with it so easily?'
Figures released today show 6.6million Brits have been spiked, based on a poll of 3000 adults by CounterSpike, which makes test kits.
Their survey found 44 per cent of people are worried about having their drinks tampered with and 52 per cent believe it is on the rise.
CounterSpike, which has also created an app, has teamed up with Spike Aware UK to educate people on the dangers.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Mandy, of Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, who is also a carer and a beautician, said: 'The youngest victim we've heard of is 11.
'We spoke to the parents of a boy who was at a house party, who was rushed to hospital after being spiked – the police never even went back to investigate. Depending on where you are, police forces all have slightly different interpretations of the law – they need better guidance.'
Determined to help stop other families having to go through the heartache they have experienced, Mandy and Colin visit schools to educate youngsters on the risks.
Remembering the night the police told them their son had died of a drug overdose, Mandy said: 'We couldn't believe it – he did motorbike racing and boxing, and was open to drug testing at any time. He was a cautious person and was filming a documentary on drink spiking, which could have made him a target.
'No one should ever walk free after spiking someone.'
The reasons for doing it vary from sexual assault to robbery or pranking. But the Mackies believe the problem is at its worst at universities and they hope the new law will be a true deterrent. Mandy added: 'When we go to speak at Freshers Week we hear students say 'It's the norm'. We want it to be treated as seriously as knife crime.'
With hopes that the law will come into force by the end of this year, Isle of Wight East Tory MP Joe Robertson is trying to get the loophole closed.
He is meeting with Solicitor General Lucy Rigby tomorrow to try to negotiate a change. He said: 'Prank spiking ruins lives. We don't want anyone being let off by claiming they were 'only having a bit of fun'. We need to close this loophole.'
Scottish Government Victims Minister Siobhian Brown said: 'We continue to engage with Spike Aware UK, the Home Office and other stakeholders through our roundtable on spiking to take a proactive approach to understand the prevalence of spiking and to ensure our response is effective.'
To minimise the risk of spiking, do not accept drinks from strangers. Buy your own drink and never leave it unattended. Warning signs that your drink may have been targeted include confusion, nausea, hallucinations and memory loss.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
22 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Dad of boy mauled by Akita dog calls for animal to be killed after attack
Zander Coyle was playing at a pal's home in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, when the powerfully built animal suddenly turned on him. A dad whose nine-year-old son was mauled by a large Akita dog has called for the animal to be put down. Zander Coyle was playing at a pal's home in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, when the powerfully built animal suddenly turned on him. During the terrifying attack, Zander suffered a gash to his head and puncture wounds to the back and side of his neck as well as bite marks. His dad Alex told the Daily Record that the dog's owner – the pal's dad – had to pull the pet off Zander after it had him pinned to the ground. Zander was rushed to Monklands Hospital in Airdrie where doctors cleaned up the wounds and gave him antibiotics to prevent them becoming infected. Alex, 48, a machine operator, said: 'I think the dog should be put down. Anyone looking at the photographs of my sons' injuries would surely agree. 'The dog nearly killed Zander when he mauled him.' The case is being investigated by North Lanarkshire Council, which has the power to seek a court order to have the dog put down. A dog warden official met Alex earlier this week and is also due to meet the dog's owners. The Control of Dogs Act gives councils the powers to impose conditions on the owner of an out-of-control dog which, if breached, can result in a fine. A council can also apply to the court to have an owner banned from keeping a dog. Alex does not attach any blame to the owners but worries that another child could be attacked while a decision is being made over the dog's future. He added: 'When I went to the house where the attack took place, my son was in shock and shaking. The attack has left him deeply traumatised and he cannot go near dogs. If he sees a dog now, he gives them a wide berth.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A North Lanarkshire council spokesperson said: 'Police Scotland referred this incident to us to investigate, and our Dog Warden took a statement from Mr Coyle on 11 August. "To date, we have been unable to speak to the dog owner so a letter has been sent asking the owner to contact us to arrange for a statement to be taken and an assessment of the dog to be carried out. "This will determine what action, if any, we take in terms of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.' A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'We received a report of a dog attacking a child within a property in the Bellshill area. 'A nine-year-old boy attended hospital for treatment. The matter was referred to the local dog warden.'
Daily Record
22 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Young Scots risking their lives with 'rhino ket' drug craze glorified by Kneecap
Scottish health bosses have warned of the rapid emergence of the drug. Young Scots are risking their lives with a 'rhino ket' drug craze that has surged after rappers Kneecap glorified it in their music. Scottish health bosses have warned of the rapid emergence of the drug, which turbo-charges the horse tranquilliser drug ketamine by adding amphetamine. The mix has been appearing more and more in Scotland, leading to fears of addiction and death among those who take it. One mother contacted the Daily Record after her 16-year-old son sought out the drug after getting into the controversial Kneecap rap act –whose song Rhino Ket is one of their top anthems. The mum said: 'My boy never touched drugs before watching the Kneecap movie last year and they were banging on about stuff like 'going down the K-hole'. 'He got in a state one night and could hardly talk when he got home. His face was bashed and he said someone had given him rhino ket, which was new to me. We found out that it's ketamine mixed with amphetamine and it's hugely dangerous.' She added: 'I'm a liberal person but when I looked at the lyrics in the Kneecap song it was basically telling young people to take this drug. It's not on because this drug is designed to make people behave in a way that exposes them to danger.' Rhino ket has been in the Scottish supply chain for several years but its increased prevalence in drug reports prompted Public Health Scotland to issue a specific alert. In PHS's latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) identifies the drug as a fast emerging trend, according to data shared by Police Scotland. The report states: ''Rhino ket' is terminology the police have been encountering more frequently. This term is sometimes used to describe a mixture of ketamine and amphetamine, which are taken together to increase the effects.' The RADAR report also identifies 'speedballing' – the combined use of crack cocaine and heroin – as another potentially deadly emerging trend. The song 'Rhino Ket', from the album 'Fine Art', is part of the Kneecap movie's soundtrack and celebrates being 'K-holed off my head'. The lyrics include: 'Recently I heard a secret, there's this thing called Rhinoceros Ket. When you take a line it makes you forget (Sounds great). Bally up and lets rob a vet (Sweet)'. It goes on: 'Can't sit, can't think, can barely even walk, dunno how the f*** we'll make it back to Falls. I'm K-Holed off my head, this s*** puts Rhinos to bed.' Ketamine is often found as an off-white crystalline powder. Effects include euphoria, hallucinations and dissociative sensations. But it also causes panic attacks and sometimes an inability to move, known as a 'k-hole'. Earlier this year, it was revealed that young Scots are risking heart attacks by taking cocaine and ketamine in a mix dubbed Calvin Klein. Almost 20 alerts about rising use of the lethal narcotics cocktail were flagged to Public Health Scotland. Almost 300,000 people in the UK between the ages of 16 and 59 reported using the drug in the year up to March 2023 – the biggest number on record, according to the Home Office. In 2019, 17-year-old violin prodigy Katya Tsukanova died of a suspected overdose after apparently taking the fatal 'Calvin Klein' mix in London. In NHS Lothian, there was an increase in under-25s taking a highly potent batch of the drug named rhino ket – leaving them suffering from heart palpitations and mouth ulcers. In Fife, a series of drug deaths were suspected to be from ketamine, as well as 'multiple overdoses in people aged under 25 in several locations, needing ambulance service after collapse'. Another instance resulted in 'serious, unexpected adverse effects including amnesia and seizures.' Elsewhere, officials noted young people turned to the deadly CK mix after hearing a number of high-profile cases of youngsters dying from taking MDMA pills. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A spokeswoman for Fife Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) said it was is aware of the risks associated with the unprescribed use of ketamine and remains committed to a proactive and preventative approach in tackling substance-related harm. The spokeswoman said: 'We work closely with a range of partners across Fife, including third sector organisations and statutory services, to ensure a broad network of support is available to those who need it. Our team meets weekly to monitor emerging issues and respond quickly to any potential harms. 'In addition, we hold monthly meetings focused on reviewing local substance trends and identifying practical actions to reduce risk and protect the health and wellbeing of our communities.' Superintendent Joanne McEwan, of Police Scotland, said: 'Police Scotland works in partnership with a wide range of national and international partners and law enforcement agencies to monitor trends and emerging threats, and share intelligence to help address the number of recorded drug deaths in Scotland. We support ongoing initiatives which aim to reduce the harm associated with problematic drug use. 'Officers from local policing and specialist divisions work tirelessly to remove illegal drugs from communities every day and remain committed to disrupting the activities of those organised criminals who supply drugs and continue their work to ensure Scotland is a hostile environment for them to operate. 'We can't tackle this issue alone and would urge the public to continue supporting us in building intelligence about the possession and supply of drugs by contacting Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
First picture of tragic teen who died after being found in flat as boy arrested
West Yorkshire Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder and rape in relation to Casey's death. A tragic girl who died after being found unresponsive in a property aged 13 has been named and pictured for the first time. The teen has been named locally by a devastated family member as Casey Louise. The 13-year-old Mossley Hollins High School student is understood to have been living in Liverpool under the care system when she travelled to Huddersfield on Monday, August 11. Casey was found unresponsive later that day, when emergency services were called to the flat on Sheepridge Road in Huddersfield. She was taken to hospital, where she sadly died in the early hours of Tuesday, August 12. The cause of her death remains undetermined, with a post mortem examination calling it "unexplained pending further investigation". West Yorkshire Police arrested a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder and rape in relation to Casey's death. He has since been released on bail, Yorkshire Live reports. Casey-Louise was named in a tribute from a family member on Friday, who wrote: "Suddenly and totally unexpected, on Tuesday 12th August our beautiful Casey-Louise gained her angel wings. "Our family is absolutely devastated by this news. Can you please respect our privacy and give us time to grieve as a family." The boy arrested in connection with her death was also arrested on suspicion of raping of a 16-year-old girl, in what police have referred to as a "separate incident" in Kirklees. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said at the time: "Detectives are working to fully understand the circumstances of the girl's death which is being treated as unexplained after a post mortem could not establish how she died." The Force's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team is spearheading the investigation, which police have described as being "complex" and "likely to be lengthy".
