Trial date set over ‘drug-laced sweets’ at Stathern summer camp

A trial date has been set for a man who was arrested after children fell ill at a summer camp, where sweets were allegedly laced with sedatives.

Jon Ruben, 76, was later charged after eight children and one adult from the camp at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire were taken to hospital.

Mr Ruben, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, faces three counts of wilful ill treatment of a child, relating to three boys, between 25 July and 29 July.

He appeared during a brief hearing at Leicester Crown Court, which was adjourned until a plea hearing at the same court on 14 November.

His Honour Judge Timothy Spencer KC told him he faced “extremely serious charges”.

The judge said Mr Ruben would be asked to plead to any charges at the next hearing, and he also set a provisional trial date of 27 January.

Mr Ruben had previously appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 2 August.

During that hearing, the court was told he faced charges that he wilfully assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed three boys to unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

Leicestershire Police said it first received a report that children at the summer camp on the site had become unwell on 27 July.

The eight children – who were all boys aged between eight and 11 – and an adult were taken to hospital as a precaution.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said it was investigating the force’s handling of the incident.

Mr Ruben, of Wayte Court, off Landmere Lane in Ruddington, remains in custody.