Summer camp leader Jon Ruben admits drugging and sexually assaulting boys disguising it as ‘sweet game’

A former vet who ran a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted drugging and sexually assaulting boys there. Jon Ruben would play what he referred to as a ‘sweet game’ before committing his heinous crimes.

Leicester Crown Court heard how the 76-year-old laced the sweets with tranquilising drugs. He admitted drugging and sexually assaulting two boys at a summer camp and child cruelty towards six other victims.

Ruben, of Wayte Court, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, admitted sexual assault of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, eight counts of child cruelty, three counts of making indecent images of children and four drugs charges. He denied a charge of assault by penetration which prosecutors have been given two weeks to consider if they will proceed with.

Invited by Judge Timothy Spencer KC to describe Ruben’s offending to the court, prosecutor Mary Prior KC said the charges related to a summer camp held at rented premises near a village in Leicestershire last summer. The prosecutor told the court: “The defendant, for at least 27 years, has run a holiday camp. There is a long history of children feeling sick at the camp over many years.”

The rented premises, Stathern Lodge, were not connected to the camp itself, the court heard, and Ruben was in charge of youngsters there, Ms Prior said.

“He made the rules,” she added. “For many years he has played what he calls a sweet game with the children in which he goes into the bedrooms. The game is that each has to eat really sticky sweets as quickly as they can but they must chew them. Children have always felt ill the next day but he explained it as they were overwrought.”

Ruben was remanded in custody until a further hearing at the same court on November 28 when he will be required to attend by prison video-link.