Man pleads guilty to poisoning and abusing children at Vale of Belvoir summer camp after giving them sweets laced with sedatives

A 76-year-old man has pleaded guilty to poisoning children with sedative-laced sweets and sexually assaulting them at a summer camp in Stathern.

Jon Ruben of Ruddington in Nottinghamshire was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July of this year.

An aerial view of Stathern Lodge during the investigation. Photo: NEMM

Ruben appeared in the dock at Leicester Crown Court today (Friday) and pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges.

However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

The court heard the victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp at Stathern Lodge in the Vale of Belvoir.

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, said Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.

She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.

76 year-old Ruben has pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges at Leicester Crown Court. Photo: Facebook

Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason. They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."

Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.

The former vet and primary school teacher pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a child under 13, assault by penetration of a child under 13, three charges of making indecent photographs of children, eight charges of cruelty to a person under 16 years, acquiring Temazepam, contrary to Customs laws, and three counts of possessing class C drugs - Flubromazolam, Diazepam and Temazepam.

Leicestershire Police received a report from a third party about children feeling unwell at the camp on Sunday 27th July but the force didn't attend until Monday 28th July.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), is investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

Ruben will be sentenced at a later date.