Camp leader Jon Ruben jailed for 23 years for drugging children with sweets to sexually abuse them

A summer camp leader who drugged children with sweets laced with a tranquiliser before sexually assaulting them has been jailed for more than 23 years.

Warning: This report contains references to graphic material including self-harm and sexual abuse which readers may find distressing

Leicester Crown Court heard Jon Ruben, 76, who ran a holiday camp for at least 27 years, was arrested last year after several children were taken to hospital.

Liquid Xanax was found to have been used on some of the victims at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire.

The vet admitted drugging and sexually assaulting two boys at the camp - pleading guilty to 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 drugs charges.

Ruben from Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, this week also admitted a further charge of drugging his wife Susan so she would not wake while the abuse took place.

On Friday, she told his sentencing he was "a sadistic, monstrous, paedophile" who had spent decades "trying to paint a picture that he was a righteous, honourable man".

She said she felt "terribly guilty" about what he had done.

At one point, Ruben shouted "no" and cried as he heard the prosecution outline the facts of the case and was told by the judge to restrain himself.

During his trial, the court heard Ruben's stepson raised concerns after finding baby oil, syringes containing white powder and other items.

The prosecution said several children fell ill after playing a so-called sweet game and found it difficult to walk, had slurred speech and could not wake up.

Prosecutor Mary Prior KC said Ruben "used his cloak of Christianity and his position of authority and trust" to poison and abuse boys as young as eight at the camp - eight miles north of Melton Mowbray.

She said his actions were "premeditated and planned" by using his skill as a vet to illegally purchase sedatives, carefully researching quantities needed, and crushing and injecting drugs into specially chosen very sweet, very sticky sweets.

Ruben leaned forward in the dock with his head in his hands as graphic details of the abuse were described to the court. He was heard crying and saying: "I'm so sorry".

The mother of one of the children said in a victim impact statement that her son "shut down and started self-harming", while another mother called him a "devious sexual predator".

The father of one victim told the court his son "admired and respected" Ruben and because the camp was a Christian event they "were confident it would be safe", but they had been "betrayed".

Another father described being "unbelievably angry" seeing his son in hospital after he had been drugged and said he "looked like a zombie".

Addressing Ruben, a child's mother called him a "disgusting, vile man" who had "ruined the lives of these children".

She added: "I want you to suffer every day."

None of the child abuse images he was prosecuted over relate to children who were at the camp.

The owners of Stathern Lodge are independent from those who use or hire it and were "not connected to the incident", Leicestershire Police have said.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Neil Holden described Ruben as a "vile, horrific offender" who "tried to blame others things, other factors, other people" for his abuse.

He confirmed the force was continuing to investigate Ruben for any other crimes and appealed for any victims or witnesses to come forward.

(c) Sky News 2026: Camp leader Jon Ruben jailed for 23 years for drugging children with sweets to sexually abuse them