A 76-year-old pensioner, Jon Ruben, has appeared in court following allegations that he gave sedative-laced sweets to children at a Christian summer camp in Leicestershire.

 

Ruben, secretary of the charity that ran Stathern Lodge, faces three counts of wilfully assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting, abandoning, or exposing children in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health between July 25 and 29.

 

The charges stem from an incident in which eight boys aged between 8 and 11, along with one adult, were hospitalised after falling ill.

 

Ruben was arrested in a pub car park and appeared at Leicester Crown Court, where he was not required to enter a plea. He has been remanded in custody until a hearing on November 14, with a provisional trial date fixed for January 27, 2026.

 

Eyewitnesses described the incident as chaotic, with emergency workers rushing to care for distressed children. One witness said:

 

“It was pretty chaotic, with emergency workers running around everywhere. I saw a few children in tears as they walked into the hall. It’s like every parent’s worst nightmare.”

 

Parents were reportedly unable to see their children for hours as they were taken to a makeshift triage centre, leading to tense scenes, with some screaming at officers for access.

 

Meanwhile, Leicestershire Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after admitting they received reports on July 27 that children were unwell but only visited the camp the following day.

 

Stathern Lodge is owned by the Braithwaite Gospel Trust, a Christian charity known for running holiday clubs.