SUMMER CAMP LEADER SENTENCE TO OVER 23 YEARS IN JAIL FOR HIS ABUSE ON CHILDREN
SENTENCING UPDATE 06/02/2026: Jon Ruben sentencing: What the judge told summer camp abuser After Jon Ruben was sentenced to more than 23 years in prison for his abuse of children, here's a recap what Judge Timothy Spencer KC told the court during his sentencing remarks: Judge Timothy Spencer KC described Ruben as "highly intelligent" He told the court Ruben breached safeguarding procedures, which the defendant had "presumably contributed to" Spencer said Ruben "lied and lied" when the police held an emergency interview The court has heard Ruben applied in writing to join an online paedophile group He said Ruben "espoused Christianity" and used his religion and his regard in the church to get into "close proximity to boys" Ruben misused his veterinary knowledge and used the dark web to access drugs, Spencer told the court ————————————————————————- 76-year-old man named Jon Ruben has been charged with child cruelty offences related to three boys at Stathern Lodge in Canal Lane, Stathern, Leicestershire.The incident occurred between July 25 and 29 last month, during which children became unwell after sweets allegedly laced with sedatives were distributed.
Ruben appeared at Leicester Crown Court, where he was charged with three counts of wilfully assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting, abandoning, or exposing children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health.
Eight children aged between eight and eleven, along with an adult, were taken to hospital as a precaution but were later discharged.
Ruben was arrested in a nearby pub car park prior to his court appearance and did not state any pleas.
His plea hearing was postponed until November 14, with a trial scheduled for January 27 of the following year.
Ruben appeared in court wearing a dark grey sweatshirt and only confirmed his name.
The charges center on sweets supposedly laced with sedatives, and the incident prompted an investigation by Leicestershire Police, which has also referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to the handling of the case.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On Friday 14th November 2025, Jon Ruben, 76, admitted to a total of 17 offences during a hearing at Leicester Crown Court.
He made children feel sick and played a 'sweet game' where he laced sweets with tranquilising drugs and sexually assaulted two boys at a summer camp held at rented premises near a village in Leicestershire last summer.
Ruben, of Wayte Court, Ruddington, also admitted to child cruelty towards six other victims, as well as making indecent images of children and drug charges.
The court was told Ruben played 'a sweet game' with children, which involved asking them to eat sticky sweets quickly and then going into bedrooms, a process that caused children to feel ill the next day.
The court noted that Ruben had a long history of such behavior, and he was remanded in custody until a further hearing scheduled for November 28, where he will attend by prison video-link.
—————————————————————————————————— A pensioner who ran a children's holiday camp for decades has admitted secretly drugging his own wife so she would sleep while he carried out sexual attacks on children.
Jon Ruben, 76, has already confessed to sexually abusing young boys at a summer camp in Leicestershire and poisoning children with drug-laced sweets.
He has now also pleaded guilty to giving his wife a tranquilliser so she would not wake while the abuse was taking place.
Appearing at Leicester Crown Court, the former veterinary surgeon broke down in tears as he admitted administering Temazepam to his wife over several days in July last year.
The court heard the drug was used deliberately to keep her asleep while children were being assaulted nearby.
Ruben had operated the camp at Stathern Lodge for more than 25 years.
During that time, he groomed children using what was described as a "sweet game", handing out confectionery that had heen tampered with sedatives before attacking two boys.
Ruben had operated the camp at Stathern Lodge for more than 25 years.
During that time, he groomed children using what was described as a "sweet game", handing out confectionery that had been tampered with sedatives before attacking two boys.
Several children became seriously unwell after taking part.
Some struggled to walk or speak, others vomited, and at least one child was left unconscious.
A number of youngsters were so heavily affected they could not be woken at all.
Concerns were raised by Ruben's stepson after discovering syringes, white powder and bottles of baby oil among the camp equipment.
Police were alerted on 27 July, and eight children were rushed to hospital.
Tests later confirmed liquid Xanax had been used on some victims.
When officers arrived, Ruben was found drinking in a nearby pub with several children and was arrested at the scene.
Prosecutor Mary Prior KC told the court the camp had a troubling history, with reports of children becoming ill stretching back years.
She said Ruben had been in sole charge of the youngsters and that the lodge itself was rented privately, separate from any legitimate organisation.
Ruben later asked police for a voluntary interview, during which he admitted drugging his wife.
In November, he pleaded guilty to multiple serious offences, including sexual assault and rape of a child under 13, eight counts of child cruelty, several drugs offences, and creating indecent images of children.
The court heard he possessed dozens of the most serious Category A abuse videos, along with further Category B and C material, created over a ten-month period.
None of the images were linked to children from the camp.
He is due to be sentenced later this week.
—————————————————————— Wednesday 4th February 2026 A man has pleaded guilty to drugging his wife in July last year so she would not wake up while he drugged and sexually assaulted children after 'sweet game' at a summer camp in Leicestershire.
Jon Ruben had previously admitted sexually assaulting two boys at a summer camp at Stathern Lodge, in Stathern, Leicestershire, and child cruelty towards six other victims.
The 76-year-old sobbed in the dock at Leicester Crown Court during his plea hearing on Wednesday, admitted administering a poison or noxious substance, Temazapam, to Susan Ruben between July 26 and 29 last year so she would not wake up while he sexually assaulted the children.
Ruben, who ran a holiday camp for at least 27 years, said “I’m so sorry” after entering his guilty plea.
