logo
ADVERTISEMENT

Man, 76, remanded in custody on child cruelty charges after children fell ill at summer camp

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Leicester Crown Court on August 29.

image
by BBC NEWS

World02 August 2025 - 18:46
ADVERTISEMENT

In Summary


  • Ruben faces charges that he wilfully assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed three boys to unnecessary suffering or injury to health.
  • Police said it first received a report that children at a summer camp on the site had become unwell on Sunday.
Jon Ruben appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Saturday/SCREENSHOT/BBC

A 76-year-old man has appeared in court facing charges related to sweets allegedly laced with sedatives after children fell ill at a summer camp in Leicestershire.

Jon Ruben was arrested as part of a Leicestershire Police investigation after eight children and one adult at the camp at Stathern Lodge, Stathern, were taken to hospital on Monday. All have since been discharged.

Ruben, of Wayte Court, off Landmere Lane in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, has been charged with three counts of wilful ill-treatment of a child, relating to three boys, between July 25 and 29 July.

The defendant did not indicate pleas to the charges during the short hearing at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

Ruben faces charges that he wilfully assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed three boys to unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Leicester Crown Court on 29 August.

Police said it first received a report that children at a summer camp on the site had become unwell on Sunday.

The eight children, who were all boys aged between eight and 11 - and an adult were taken to hospital as a precaution.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said it was investigating the force's handling of the incident.

Related Articles

ADVERTISEMENT