Jon Ruben jailed for 23 years for crimes which came to light at Stathern children's camp
Jon Ruben was today (Friday) jailed for more than 23 years for a catalogue of crimes which came to light at a children’s summer camp at Stathern last year.
The 76-yeart-old was in the dock at Leicester Crown Court at the end of a case Leicestershire Police’s Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Neil Holden described as ‘horrific, complex and emotional’.
Police were called to the camp, at Stathern Lodge, in Canal Lane, on July 28, after concerns were raised that a number of children had become unwell while at the camp, which was being run by Ruben.
East Midlands Ambulance Service also attended the scene with eight boys, aged between eight and 11, and an adult, being taken to hospital as a precaution.
Investigations later revealed that the children had eaten sweets – given to them by Ruben – which had been laced with sedatives.
Enquiries led police to discover that he had organised a ‘sweet game’ with a number of children at the Stathern camp on the evenings of July 26 and 27 which involved encouraging them to eat the sweets with the winner receiving a chocolate bar.
Before today’s sentencing, Ruben, of Wayte Court, Landmere Lane, Ruddington, admitted a series of offences, including wilful ill treatment of eight children and the possession of class C drugs.
He also previously admitted sexual offences against two boys aged under 13 and charges of possession of indecent Category A images of children. None of the images concerned relate to children who were at the Stathern summer camp.
Earlier this week, he also admitted administering a poison/noxious substance to his wife, Susan, at the camp – this was done so she was not awake during his offending.
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Holden said: “This investigation has been horrific, complex and emotional; involving multiple young victims, an adult victim and a man who committed the vilest crimes with little remorse shown.
“These crimes that Ruben committed were pre-planned and it is hard to imagine how someone could plot out what he did.
"He abused his position and the trust placed in him in a most horrendous way making children the victims of his crimes and without any thought of the impact his actions would have.”
He said there was a possibility that Ruben may be guilty of other crimes which police may never discover.
“We know that Ruben has worked in schools in the Nottinghamshire area as well as involved in youth organisations and previous summer camps over the past 20 years or more,” Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Holden said.
"Our ongoing investigation continues to focus on Ruben’s background and making contact with the schools, agencies and organisations we know he has been involved in to provide help, advice and support and to investigate any further information which we receive.”
The owners and operators of Stathern Lodge are independent from those people who use or hire the lodge and are not connected to the incident.
Due to circumstances surrounding the initial police response to the report which was received, Leicestershire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in July last year. That investigation remains ongoing.
Call police on 101 if you have any information regarding Jon Ruben.