“I believe I was spiked - now I have a brain injury which means I struggle to walk and talk”

A mum has been left with a brain injury after a suspected spiking incident and now struggles to walk and talk.

Simone White, 43, was out with friends at a bottomless brunch in Bristol on May 4 when she started to feel "very funny". The mum-of-three collapsed and was taken to A&E suffering from seizures. Simone was discharged and told the side effects would "wear off" but she has been left with stuttered speech and is struggling to walk. Following a CT scan on May 8, doctors believe Simone suffered a functional neurological disorder (FND). She is waiting for the results of an MRI to confirm her diagnosis.

Simone, a self-employed cleaner, from Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, is currently unable to work, and doctors have advised her not to drive.

Avon and Somerset Police are investigating the incident.

A spokesperson said: "Officers are keen to hear from anyone who has information that could help the investigation, particularly anyone who was at Tonight Josephine in Baldwin Street between 4pm and 5pm on Saturday 4 May. If you have any information please call 101.”

A spokesperson for Tonight Josephine said: “We are aware of an incident that is alleged to have taken place in Bristol last Saturday and can confirm that the victim did visit our bar late Saturday afternoon.  We have comprehensive CCTV from the afternoon, which we have shared with the police, and confirm that upon full review at no point does anyone outside of the booking touch any vessel that she drinks from.  We urge other bars that she visited throughout the night to do the same. 

“It is awful that spiking does happen and we must continue to do all that we can to protect our customers so that they are free to enjoy themselves on their precious nights out.  We are devastated to learn of the potentially long lasting effects that this might have on the victim.”