Man pleads guilty to drugging and sexually assaulting two boys at summer camp

A 76-year-old man has pleaded guilty to 17 charges after allegedly attacking two children and lacing sweets with sedatives at a summer camp.

Jon Ruben was charged with child cruelty offences relating to three boys at Stathern Lodge in Canal Lane, Stathern, Leicestershire, this summer.

He appeared at Leicester Crown Court today, where he admitted sexual offences against two boys, aged nine and 10.

He’s denied one sexual offence against a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben ran the camp, and Mary Prior KC said he played a ‘sweet game’ with the children, and asked them to eat the laced sweets as ‘quickly’ as they could.

The court heard his stepson became wary of the situation and searched his things, where he found baby oil, Vaseline and syringes.

In total, Ruben admitted sexual assault of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, eight counts of child cruelty, three counts of making indecent images of children and four drug charges

The prosecutor told the court: ‘The defendant, for at least 27 years, has run a holiday camp. There is a long history of children feeling sick at the camp over many years.’

The rented premises, Stathern Lodge, were not connected to the camp itself, the court heard, and Ruben was in charge of youngsters there, Ms Prior said.

Ruben was remanded in custody until a further hearing at the same court on November 28, when he will be required to attend by prison video-link.

A mum whose son was due to attend the camp this summer told Metro it was run by Stathern Children’s Holiday Fund, which runs trips for children in Nottingham’s socially deprived areas.

The camps are billed as ‘safe havens, fostering friendships, building skills and sparking potential’.

Residential holidays for up to 70 children aged eight to 11 are hosted at Stathern Lodge.

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