Man charged with rape after ‘spiking woman’s drink on night out’
A man has been charged with rape after a woman allegedly had her drink spiked on a night out.
Dale Garlick, 29, will appear in court today accused of attacking her in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, last month.
He was arrested after the woman, who is aged over 16, contacted the police on September 27, alleging she had been spiked and raped two days before.
Greater Manchester Police said it ‘treats all reports of sexual assault and sexual violence with the utmost priority and confidentiality, and take allegations of this nature extremely seriously.’
There have been renewed safety fears for women following multiple reports of students being spiked by needles in nightclubs and bars across the UK.
Zara Owen, a first-year student in Nottingham, was one of the first victims to come forward with her story.
In a post on Facebook, she said she blacked out shortly after arriving at a club on October 10.
The 19-year-old said the next thing she remembers was waking up in her bed with a ‘sharp, agonising pain’ in her leg, a limp and no memory after a certain point.
Since then, a number of women, most of whom are students, have claimed they were attacked with needles while clubbing.
Important services for sexual assault victims
Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.
Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk.
Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma informed support to boys and men in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.
Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma informed support to boys and men in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.
Source: Greater Manchester Police
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