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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
This Morning star reveals terrifying moment she blacked out on boozy night out as she sends warning to fans
THIS Morning star Ashley James has revealed the frightful moment she blacked out on a boozy night out - and feared she had been spiked. 6 Ashley James has talked about drink spiking and the dangers Credit: The Sun 6 The TV star has spoken about a traumatic experience on a night out Credit: The Sun "When I woke up I was in my brother's halls with my brother. 'I'd been sick everywhere and I actually didn't remember anything that happened. But luckily I was with my brother and his friends. 'They teased me that I couldn't handle my drink because I was the younger sister that had gone to visit my brother, but I didn't feel like that. Read more 'My reaction and how sick I was, was not in proportion to what I drank in that situation.' She continues: 'Had it happened now, my brother or me or his friends could have tested my drinks. 'If I had been spiked, there was no mugging or sexual assault. But the next person might not be so lucky, because I imagine a lot of these people that try to spike people's drinks don't just do it once - and if they fail , they don't stop doing it.' Like many people, Ashley didn't tell anyone about her concerns - according to a new survey by CounterSpike only 11% of spiking victims reported it to the police. Most read in News TV Now, Ashley is helping to promote SpikeStixx - a spiking test kit that enables people to test their drinks on a night out and get instant results. 'It's literally the same size as my lipstick, so you can put it in your bag, no matter how tiny and impractical your bag is - as mine always is,' says Ashley. Trolls said I'd 'let myself go' after kids - but I love my body more now than when I was super slim, says Ashley James 'Ever since I started going out properly, spiking's always been that sort of invisible threat or thing that we have to worry about.' She often speaks out about double standards for men and women - and 'I definitely feel like I've got to a point where I realise that there shouldn't be a moral 'And actually, we see that, even if you're looking at spiking. But any form of sexual violence, it doesn't just happen because of what we wear. 'I find specifically, the She adds: 'I certainly don't think that my body is any more shameful than anyone else's and I think time and time again, we see that it doesn't matter what we wear. 'People are spiking drinks, not because of what we're wearing. People are hurting and killing women, not because of the clothes that they are wearing. It's because those people are bad people who want to harm women.' Despite any concerns Ashley might have on a night out, the mum-of-two is planning to keep on partying for a long time to come. She says: 'I love socialising. I'm such an extrovert and I'm a DJ as well. So I'm always out and about in various different environments where there's drinks. 'I love being around friends. I've got a really good group of mum friends. I've got a really good group of friends in the industry and I feel like I'll never slow down - I'm just a bit more tired.' 6 The mum-of-two is refusing to let other people hypersexualize her body Credit: Instagram/ashleylouisejames 6 Ashley regularly appears on This Morning and speaks about hard-hitting topics Credit: Rex 6 Despite any spiking worries, Ashley will continue to socialise and party Credit: Getty 6 The former MIC reality star has carved out a successful career in broadcasting Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
This Morning star reveals terrifying moment she blacked out on boozy night out as she sends warning to fans
The star has spoken recently about her sexualized teen body and the fat-jab future lucky escape This Morning star reveals terrifying moment she blacked out on boozy night out as she sends warning to fans THIS Morning star Ashley James has revealed the frightful moment she blacked out on a boozy night out - and feared she had been spiked. The 38-year-old says she feels very lucky because she wasn't mugged or sexually assaulted, but is now extra careful with her drinks on nights out. Advertisement 6 Ashley James has talked about drink spiking and the dangers Credit: The Sun 6 The TV star has spoken about a traumatic experience on a night out Credit: The Sun Ashley, who is working alongside Spike Aware UK and CounterSpike in a bid to educate people on the issue, tells us: 'When I went to my brother's university, and I went out with him and his friends, it's the first time that I'd ever completely blacked out. "When I woke up I was in my brother's halls with my brother. 'I'd been sick everywhere and I actually didn't remember anything that happened. But luckily I was with my brother and his friends. 'They teased me that I couldn't handle my drink because I was the younger sister that had gone to visit my brother, but I didn't feel like that. Advertisement 'My reaction and how sick I was, was not in proportion to what I drank in that situation.' She continues: 'Had it happened now, my brother or me or his friends could have tested my drinks. 'If I had been spiked, there was no mugging or sexual assault. But the next person might not be so lucky, because I imagine a lot of these people that try to spike people's drinks don't just do it once - and if they fail, they don't stop doing it.' Like many people, Ashley didn't tell anyone about her concerns - according to a new survey by CounterSpike only 11% of spiking victims reported it to the police. Advertisement Now, Ashley is helping to promote SpikeStixx - a spiking test kit that enables people to test their drinks on a night out and get instant results. 'It's literally the same size as my lipstick, so you can put it in your bag, no matter how tiny and impractical your bag is - as mine always is,' says Ashley. Trolls said I'd 'let myself go' after kids - but I love my body more now than when I was super slim, says Ashley James 'Ever since I started going out properly, spiking's always been that sort of invisible threat or thing that we have to worry about.' DJ and TV star Ashley first rose to fame during her short stint on Made In Chelsea - she now uses her voice to talk about what's important to her. Advertisement She often speaks out about double standards for men and women - and refuses to cover up her boobs because other people choose to hypersexualize them. 'I definitely feel like I've got to a point where I realise that there shouldn't be a moral attachment to the clothes that we wear,' she tells us. 'And actually, we see that, even if you're looking at spiking. But any form of sexual violence, it doesn't just happen because of what we wear. 'I find specifically, the hypersexualization of boobs quite frustrating. I don't deserve to be judged and especially not my morals or sexuality questioned based on my body." Advertisement She adds: 'I certainly don't think that my body is any more shameful than anyone else's and I think time and time again, we see that it doesn't matter what we wear. 'People are spiking drinks, not because of what we're wearing. People are hurting and killing women, not because of the clothes that they are wearing. It's because those people are bad people who want to harm women.' Despite any concerns Ashley might have on a night out, the mum-of-two is planning to keep on partying for a long time to come. She says: 'I love socialising. I'm such an extrovert and I'm a DJ as well. So I'm always out and about in various different environments where there's drinks. Advertisement 'I love being around friends. I've got a really good group of mum friends. I've got a really good group of friends in the industry and I feel like I'll never slow down - I'm just a bit more tired.' 6 The mum-of-two is refusing to let other people hypersexualize her body Credit: Instagram/ashleylouisejames 6 Ashley regularly appears on This Morning and speaks about hard-hitting topics Credit: Rex 6 Despite any spiking worries, Ashley will continue to socialise and party Credit: Getty Advertisement
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
This Morning star reveals terrifying moment she blacked out on boozy night out as she sends warning to fans
THIS Morning star Ashley James has revealed the frightful moment she blacked out on a boozy night out - and feared she had been spiked. The 38-year-old says she feels very lucky because she wasn't mugged or sexually assaulted, but is now extra careful with her drinks on nights out. 6 6 Ashley, who is working alongside Spike Aware UK and CounterSpike in a bid to educate people on the issue, tells us: 'When I went to my brother's university, and I went out with him and his friends, it's the first time that I'd ever completely blacked out. "When I woke up I was in my brother's halls with my brother. 'I'd been sick everywhere and I actually didn't remember anything that happened. But luckily I was with my brother and his friends. 'They teased me that I couldn't handle my drink because I was the younger sister that had gone to visit my brother, but I didn't feel like that. 'My reaction and how sick I was, was not in proportion to what I drank in that situation.' She continues: 'Had it happened now, my brother or me or his friends could have tested my drinks. 'If I had been spiked, there was no mugging or sexual assault. But the next person might not be so lucky, because I imagine a lot of these people that try to spike people's drinks don't just do it once - and if they fail, they don't stop doing it.' Like many people, Ashley didn't tell anyone about her concerns - according to a new survey by CounterSpike only 11% of spiking victims reported it to the police. Now, Ashley is helping to promote SpikeStixx - a spiking test kit that enables people to test their drinks on a night out and get instant results. 'It's literally the same size as my lipstick, so you can put it in your bag, no matter how tiny and impractical your bag is - as mine always is,' says Ashley. 'Ever since I started going out properly, spiking's always been that sort of invisible threat or thing that we have to worry about.' DJ and TV star Ashley first rose to fame during her short stint on Made In Chelsea - she now uses her voice to talk about what's important to her. She often speaks out about double standards for men and women - and refuses to cover up her boobs because other people choose to hypersexualize them. 'I definitely feel like I've got to a point where I realise that there shouldn't be a moral attachment to the clothes that we wear, ' she tells us. 'And actually, we see that, even if you're looking at spiking. But any form of sexual violence, it doesn't just happen because of what we wear. 'I find specifically, the hypersexualization of boobs quite frustrating. I don't deserve to be judged and especially not my morals or sexuality questioned based on my body." She adds: 'I certainly don't think that my body is any more shameful than anyone else's and I think time and time again, we see that it doesn't matter what we wear. 'People are spiking drinks, not because of what we're wearing. People are hurting and killing women, not because of the clothes that they are wearing. It's because those people are bad people who want to harm women.' Despite any concerns Ashley might have on a night out, the mum-of-two is planning to keep on partying for a long time to come. She says: 'I love socialising. I'm such an extrovert and I'm a DJ as well. So I'm always out and about in various different environments where there's drinks. 'I love being around friends. I've got a really good group of mum friends. I've got a really good group of friends in the industry and I feel like I'll never slow down - I'm just a bit more tired.' 6 6 6 6
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Parents of Scots teen who died at university call for action on 'prank spiking'
Mandy and Colin Mackie lost their son Greg in 2017, and are calling for 'prank spiking' to be criminalised. 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.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Survivors open up about ‘scary' times they were spiked as new data reveals more than one in 10 adults have been victims
Drink spiking survivors have opened up about their terrifying experiences from collapsing to losing control of their body as new figures reveal more than one in 10 Britons are victims. Mark Ackred, 47, said he was spiked when he was attending a family festival in the summer of 2021 while looking after his daughter and son, who were 11 and seven at the time. The 47-year-old, from the Cotswolds, said he sipped from a glass at a wine tasting event, which was his first alcoholic drink of the day, and within minutes he felt faint. He said he then stumbled out of the tent, before collapsing and being 'out of it' and unable to remember anything for seven hours. 'I felt weird, then really bad,' he told The Independent, describing how his head was lolling and he was incoherent. 'I went home, and felt horrific for the next two days. 'For my children, it was really scary. I was the parent in charge.' It was his daughter, now 15, who had to rush to get help at the time. Mr Ackred said the incident has had a lasting impact on both her and his son, now 12, with both now more hesitant about going out. He is opening up about his experience as new data reveals that spiking, and concerns about being spiked, is reaching critical levels in the UK. CounterSpike 's survey of 3,000 UK adults in June found that 6.6 million (12 per cent) of Britons have been spiked during their lifetime, and a further 11.7 million (22 per cent) know someone who has been. The research comes after the government pledged to introduce a specific offence to cover spiking, aiming to make it easier to prosecute those who administer harmful substances without consent. The new offence has been created under the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently moving through its final stages in parliament. Couple Sara and Stephen Ridgewell have also spoken about the terrifying time they were spiked while at a former colleague's engagement party in February 2023. They said they had three or four drinks during the time they all travelled to the venue on a minibus and for one-and-a-half hours once they had arrived, which included Prosecco from a bottle that only they drank from. After that, they said they cannot remember much at all for hours. Ms Ridgewell, 43, said: 'We were both very scared and shocked this could happen. We were out as a couple with people we knew, and assumed we were in a safe environment where we could relax.' The couple said they woke up in a budget hotel, with no recollection of how they had got there. Piecing together the few vague memories they had of the night, they said they discovered Mr Ridgewell, 46, had wet himself, which had never happened before, and also cut his head after falling over. The 46-year-old said: 'It's such a scary thing – I've been out a million times for drinks with friends – something happens where you don't know where you've been. I wasn't in control of my body. It was such a worrying experience to have gone through. Afterwards, piecing together what could have happened, it's the what could've happened that's really scary.' The couple said they spent the days after the incident feeling awful and have become hypervigilant since. They advised others to always be aware of their surroundings and to never take their eyes off their drink, with anyone a potential target of perpetrators. Mr Ackred set up CounterSpike in the wake of what happened to him. The company has now developed a spiking test kit, SpikeStixx, and also teamed up with charity Spike Aware UK to draw awareness to the dangers of spiking. Nearly half of all adults (44 per cent) are worried about being spiked on a night out, according to the new data, the majority of whom are women. Aimee Glass, an 18-year-old student from Suffolk, told The Independent last year that she was spiked during freshers week in September. She said she started feeling unwell after having two drinks at the pub and another two drinks at a club. 'I had a wave of heat and sickness,' she said. 'It was unlike anything I had experienced before. It was like no illness I had felt being drunk or sober. I was really scared because I was so unsure of what was happening. I couldn't feel my limbs properly or speak properly. To my friends, I described the last moments of my vision as being like kaleidoscope vision and then my vision became very blurred.' Ms Glass said she completely lost her vision within half an hour of feeling unwell – adding that she was unable to both walk or talk, not speaking for seven hours after being spiked. Speaking of the spiking 'epidemic' in the UK, Mr Ackred said: 'It's become so problematic. I feel there's a lot of discussion and we need more solutions.'
