Date drug victim blasts sentence

Spall spiked her drink when she went to the toilet

A woman has criticised the two-year jail term handed down to a businessman who spiked her drink during a date at a restaurant.

Rohail Spall from Ilford, Essex, was sentenced for administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual act.

Spall, 39, could be free in just over three months, once time he has already spent in custody is taken into account.

"I think he should have got longer. If I had drunk that drink I would have been raped," said the woman.

"It makes me feel horrible. I can't put it into words, but I feel very lucky as well. It's slight relief.

"I haven't been out that much since then. I'm totally paranoid. There's no way I'm getting in that situation again."

'I was shocked'

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described how she first met Spall in a bar in London.

A member of staff pulled me over and said the guy I was with had put something in my drink Victim

"He seemed like a nice guy. He took my number and then continued to call me.

"I wasn't that interested but he called numerous times. I thought why not? I arranged to meet him for a drink."

On the night of the incident she said he encouraged her to drink, buying shots of tequila.

"He was getting very drunk and I felt uncomfortable."

Spall suggested they went for some food.

At the restaurant, she said Spall encouraged her to drink red wine although she was eating fish and preferred white.

They ate and then she got up to go to the toilet.

She said: "I came back and a member of staff pulled me over and said the guy I was with had put something in my drink.

"I was shocked. I decided to call one of my friends and ask what I should do. She said call the police."

She went back to the table and asked Spall which drink was hers. She saw the drink fizzing slightly.

"I was just shocked."