By Jess McCabe | 28 December 2007, 12:38

A scientist has developed a method which could help police determine when rapists spike drinks, down to a two-hour time frame, reports the BBC.

The method obviously relies on the victim managing to keep a sample of the drink that got spiked, as well as any other number of variables, but this is good news. Hilary Bathgate, who came up with the process, is only 22.

Ms Bathgate, who received a first in her BSc forensic science course for the work, said: “The key development has been being able to help find the time-frame for when a drink may have been spiked, using the degradation process.

“The type of alcohol served also plays a part, with the drug degrading more rapidly in certain drinks, such as white wine in comparison to non-alcoholic drinks such as J20.”