Student may face charges after wine ‘spiked with anti-freeze’

A STUDENT at St Andrews University has been reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with an incident which left an undergraduate temporarily blinded after his drink was contaminated with anti-freeze.

American Alexander Hilton, 20, had not been formally charged last night in relation to the incident, which saw a bottle of wine spiked with the substance, which even in small quantities can cause damage to the optic nerve.

Robert Forbes, 19, who is also from the US, spent a week in hospital after drinking the wine before the university’s annual New Hall Ball at the five-star St Andrews Bay Hotel.

Mr Forbes, who was studying international relations as part of a four-year degree course, subsequently returned to his home in the US where he underwent treatment at a specialist eye hospital in an attempt to restore his sight. It is understood that he has since recovered.

Fife police said at the time that they were investigating a case of “culpable and reckless conduct”.

A spokesman for the force said yesterday: “A 20-year-old man has been reported to the procurator fiscal in Cupar in relation to an offence of culpable and reckless conduct.”

Mr Forbes is believed to have shared a bottle of red wine with several friends at the university halls before the event but is thought to have drunk more of it than the others.

One of Mr Forbes’ friends, who asked not to be identified, said at the time: “Robert and a few of his friends were worse for wear after having a glass of wine or so, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. From what I’ve heard, he began having problems with his vision at the ball.

“Over the next couple of days, it emerged that Robert was in hospital and almost completely blind. His vision was blurring, he was exceptionally ill and very sick. He was originally almost entirely blind.”

A spokeswoman for the Crown Office said the procurator fiscal was considering the report.

As both parties have returned to their native US, it is not yet known what steps will be taken.

Anti-freeze is made up of a mixture chemicals including ethylene glycol and methanol. They have a sweet taste which means they can be hidden in drinks. Just ten millilitres of methanol can damage the optic nerve causing vision loss, and 30 millilitres can be fatal.

Even if the patient survives, there may be little or no urine output for several weeks before the kidneys recover, and any brain damage or vision loss may be permanent.

Mr Forbes, who graduated from the independent boarding school Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania before moving to Scotland to study, is understood to have spoken to lawyers in the US over the incident.

A spokeswoman for St Andrews University said: “The individual concerned is no longer a student at St Andrews. They left last academic year for personal reasons.”