Summer Camp Leader Sentenced to 23 Years for Drugging and Abusing Children
A former summer camp leader has been handed a substantial prison sentence after a disturbing case involving the drugging and sexual assault of young boys, as well as the sedation of his own wife to cover his crimes. Jon Ruben, 76, of Wayte Court in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, received 23 years and 10 months in prison at Leicester Crown Court.
Twisted Abuse Under the Guise of a "Sweet Game"
Ruben, who ran a summer camp for 27 years, lured boys aged between eight and 11 into playing what he called a "sweet game." He used his background as a veterinary surgeon to calculate and administer sedatives, crushing drugs and injecting them into specially chosen sticky sweets. This chilling premeditation allowed him to abuse the children while they were incapacitated.
Prosecutor Mary Prior KC detailed how Ruben exploited his position of trust and authority, often under the cloak of Christianity, to poison and assault the victims. The children suffered symptoms including slurred speech, sickness, drowsiness, instability, and stomach pain upon waking. Some were found with liquid Xanax in their systems, and eight required hospitalisation.
Drugging of Wife and Discovery of Evidence
In a further act of betrayal, Ruben drugged his wife, Susan Ruben, with Temazepam in July last year at the summer camp held at Stathern Lodge in Stathern, Leicestershire. This was intended to prevent her from intervening in his abusive activities. Susan Ruben expressed her feelings of complete betrayal in court, describing her husband as a "sadistic, monstrous paedophile" who had spent decades masquerading as a righteous man.
The case came to light after Ruben's stepson raised concerns upon finding suspicious items such as baby oil, syringes with white powder, and other paraphernalia at the camp. This led to a police investigation and Ruben's subsequent arrest.
Impact on Victims and Families
The emotional toll on the victims and their families was profound. During the sentencing hearing, mothers of the abused boys delivered victim impact statements, with one revealing that their child had resorted to self-harm after learning of the abuse. Another parent directed anger at Ruben, stating, "I actually want you to f****** die. You deserve it. You've ruined the lives of these children."
Judge Timothy Spencer KC reassured the parents that they were not to blame, emphasising that only Ruben was responsible for the attacks. He noted the lifelong impact on the boys and their families, describing Ruben's actions as premeditated and chillingly calculated.
Additional Charges and Police Statement
Ruben also pleaded guilty to administering a poison or noxious substance related to his wife and admitted to charges involving indecent images of children. These included 50 category A videos, 22 category B videos, and seven category C videos, created between August 2023 and June last year. However, none of these images involved children from the summer camp.
Leicestershire Police confirmed that the owners and operators of Stathern Lodge were not connected to the incident, highlighting that Ruben acted independently. The force's investigation uncovered the extent of his crimes, leading to the successful prosecution.
In sentencing, Judge Spencer condemned Ruben for using his veterinary knowledge to facilitate the abuse, describing a document detailing his dosage calculations as particularly chilling. The judge underscored the severity of the offences, which have left a lasting scar on the community and the victims involved.
