Woman required CPR after having drink spiked in Newtown
A man has faced court after he allegedly spiked a woman’s cocktail in a popular Newtown pub with liquid ecstasy – otherwise known as the drug GHB.
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A man who allegedly spiked a woman’s cocktail in a popular Newtown pub resulting in her collapsing and requiring CPR has been released on bail.
Police allege Thomas Elliott, 28, sat down inside Town Hall Hotel in Newtown about 9pm last Friday, leaned over a woman’s drink and spiked it with the drug GHB.
GHB is also known by the nickname liquid ecstasy and can be used as a date rape drug.
The 27-year-old woman, who knew Mr Elliott, returned to her seat from the bathroom and consumed the cocktail before collapsing.
A NSW Ambulance spokesman said CPR was performed on the woman before paramedics arrived.
He said when paramedics arrived at the hotel she was not in cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Blood tests later confirmed the drug GHB was in her system.
Mr Elliott was arrested at his workplace on Tuesday afternoon following a police investigation.
He appeared via audiovisual link in Central Local Court on Wednesday and applied for bail.
The prosecutor argued that police had CCTV footage which appeared to show Mr Elliott putting something in her drink.
However, Mr Elliott’s defence lawyer Bryan Wrench said he had no motive for the offence and stated it could have been somebody else.
“He is friends with the complainant and does not have any motive to engage with what was occurring.”
Mr Wrench argued that Mr Elliott had plans to leave the hotel soon after with a friend, who had been with him during the night and did not see him spike the drink.
“(His friend) has told me that there were also two other creepy guys hanging around that area.”
Mr Wrench also tendered text messages allegedly sent from the victim to the mutual friend, about police investigating Mr Elliott.
“The constable called me. I think they may be wrong. I feel really sick,” the alleged victim wrote in the message.
Mr Elliott has no prior criminal history.
Magistrate Robert Williams granted him strict conditional bail which included reporting five days a week to police, living with his parents in Hurlstone Park, not leaving NSW, not to contact any witnesses and not to enter a licensed premises.
He is facing one charge of administer poison etc intend injure/cause distress/pain. The police prosecutor confirmed a second charge would be laid for drink spiking.
A Facebook post was widely shared on social media believed to be written by the alleged victim, which has since been taken down on her page.
It warned people about the dangers of leaving your drink unattended and not covering it when speaking with strangers.
“I now have a broken sternum which takes 12 weeks to heal as a result of being unconscious and receiving CPR,” the post read.
“Please look after each other in Newtown and I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else.
“The staff (at The Townie) were amazing and helpful and treated the situation seriously.”
Mr Elliott’s matter will be mentioned again in court on December 11. Magistrate Williams said a plea must be entered on that date.