A POPULAR Taunton late-night pub has denied having an uncaring attitude after a teenager had her drink spiked with drugs before Christmas.

The girl's mother, Carolyn Bailey, claimed High Street pub Toad at the Warehouse put profits before customer safety.

But its manager Jon Barclay has defended the Toad's reputa-tion saying drink spiking has become a "sick game" played on the unwary.

Mrs Bailey's daughter accepted a drink from a stranger on Saturday, December 20, and it quickly became obvious to her friends that something was wrong.

By the time her family arrived from Wellington to take her to hospital at 11.15pm the teenager was outside the pub in a terrible state.

Her mother said: "She didn't know where she was or who she was. She was so disoriented that anything could have happened to her. I'm just so grateful she was with a group of friends."

Now Mrs Bailey has written to the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police asking to be informed when the Toad's licence next comes up for review so she can make an official complaint.

Insp Carol Pearce has urged drinkers, in particular women, to be cautious. She said: "People should always keep a close eye on their drink no matter who they are with. "They should also be wary of accepting drinks from strangers."