A 76-year-old man, Jon Ruben, who confessed to committing sex offenses against two boys by drugging them with laced sweets during a summer camp, has been cautioned that he will receive a severe sentence. The incident took place at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire in July, where eight children and one adult fell ill and were subsequently hospitalized, leading to Ruben’s arrest.
During a court appearance at Leicester Crown Court on November 14, Ruben admitted to 17 charges except for a sexual offense involving a boy under 13. The outstanding charge was later deemed to lie on file, and Ruben will not face trial for it. His sentencing is scheduled for February 6 next year, as stated by His Honour Timothy Spencer KC, who warned Ruben of an impending lengthy prison term.
The accused pleaded guilty to eight counts of willful child mistreatment, possession of dutiable goods through fraudulent means, possession of a class C drug, and producing indecent images of children. Additionally, he admitted to assaulting and sexually assaulting a boy under 13.
Following reports of children falling ill, the police intervened at the summer camp on July 28, suspecting that Ruben was drugging the children. Subsequent investigations revealed that eight children and an adult were hospitalized but later discharged. Ruben was apprehended at a nearby pub, where he was found in the company of some children. Syringes and sedatives were discovered during a search at Stathern Lodge.
In court testimonies in November, it was revealed that there had been a prolonged history of children feeling unwell at the camp, which Ruben had operated for 27 years. The prosecutor, Mary Prior KC, disclosed that Ruben engaged in a dubious game with the children involving consuming sticky sweets quickly, resulting in the children feeling ill the following day, which Ruben dismissed as overexcitement.