Summer camp sex offender admits drugging wife

A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp before sexually assaulting them has admitted drugging his wife so she would not wake while the abuse took place.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in Stathern, Leicestershire, in July.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to 17 charges at Leicester Crown Court on 14 November.

On Wednesday, the same court was told Ruben had admitted the offence of unlawfully and maliciously administering a noxious substance, temazepam, with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy, after giving a voluntary interview.

Addressing the defendant,who was crying in the dock, the judge said "you appear upset, unusually so", adding that Friday - when Ruben is due to be sentenced - will be "much more emotional".

The court heard the offence took place against his wife Susan between 26 and 29 July.

While entering his guilty plea, Ruben tearfully said "I'm so sorry".

In November, prosecutors had set out how Ruben - who had run a holiday camp for children for at least 27 years - had played a game in which he would go into boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

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

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, previously told the court several of the youngsters found it difficult to walk, had slurred speech and could not wake up.

The 17 charges admitted by Ruben were:

• One count of sexual assault of a child under 13
• One count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration
• Eight counts of cruelty to a person under 16 years, in relation to eight separate victims
• One count of acquiring or possession of dutiable goods, namely temazepam, by fraudulent intent
• Three counts of possession of a Class C drug, namely flubromazolam, diazepam and temazepam
• Three counts of making indecent photographs of children

The court heard at a previous hearing that Ruben's stepson raised concerns with his partner during the camp.

A search of his stepfather's belongings uncovered items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes, prompting him to notify police.

Devices belonging to Ruben were later analysed by officers and found to contain more than 50 Category A indecent videos of children, the most serious category.

There were also 22 Category B videos and seven Category C videos made between August 2023 and June last year.

None of the images concerned relate to children who were at the summer camp.

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

Before Ruben was sent to HMP Leicester, where he will remain until he is sentenced, Spencer said: "I understand why you were upset earlier. I will sentence you on Friday.

"It will be a very tough day in your life and it will be a very long day."

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