Paedophile camp leader Jon Ruben jailed for 23 years for sexually abusing children he drugged with sweets

A summer camp leader who drugged children with sweets laced with a tranquiliser before sexually assaulting them has been jailed for more than 23 years.

Warning: This report contains references to graphic material including self-harm and sexual abuse which readers may find distressing

Leicester Crown Court heard Jon Ruben, 76, who ran a camp for at least 27 years, was arrested in July 2025 after eight children were taken to hospital.

Liquid Xanax was found to have been used on some of the victims at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire.

The former vet admitted drugging and abusing two boys - pleading guilty to 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.

Ruben from Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, this week also admitted a further charge of drugging his wife Susan with temazepam so she would not wake while the abuse took place.

On Friday, she told his sentencing he was "a sadistic, monstrous, paedophile" who had spent decades "trying to paint a picture that he was a righteous, honourable man".

She said she felt "terribly guilty" about what he had done.

Baby oil and syringes

At one point, Ruben shouted "no" and cried as he heard the prosecution outline the facts of the case and was told by the judge to restrain himself.

He was jailed for 23 years and 10 months and will serve a further eight years on licence.

Judge Timothy Spencer KC told the court: "This was the deliberate drugging of boys aged between eight and 11 years to facilitate sexual assaults without detection, and the harm is at the highest level."

The court previously heard Ruben's stepson had raised concerns during the camp after finding baby oil, syringes containing white powder and other items.

The prosecution said the children fell ill after playing a so-called sweet game and found it difficult to walk, had slurred speech and could not wake up.

Prosecutor Mary Prior KC said the next morning some were "walking into walls and in the wrong direction".

Xanax's effects can start after about half an hour and last up to six hours.

Ms Prior said Ruben had "used his cloak of Christianity and his position of authority and trust" to poison and abuse boys as young as eight at the camp - located eight miles north of Melton Mowbray.

'Devious sexual predator'

The prosecution said Ruben had used his skill as a vet to illegally purchase sedatives, research quantities, and crush and inject drugs into very sweet and sticky sweets.

Ruben leaned forward in the dock with his head in his hands as graphic details of the abuse were described to the court on Friday. He was heard crying and saying: "I'm sorry".

The mother of one of the children said her son had "shut down and started self-harming", while other parents called him a "devious sexual predator".

The father of one victim told the court his son "admired and respected" Ruben and because the camp was a Christian event they "were confident it would be safe", but they had been "betrayed".

Another father described being "unbelievably angry" seeing his son in hospital after he had been drugged and said he "looked like a zombie".

Addressing Ruben, a child's mother called him a "disgusting, vile man" who had "ruined the lives of these children".

She added: "I want you to suffer every day."

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Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Neil Holden described Ruben as a "vile, horrific offender" who "tried to blame others things, other factors, other people" for his abuse.

He said Ruben had worked in schools, youth organisations and summer camps for at least 20 years and the force is urging any more victims or witnesses to come forward.

The owners of Stathern Lodge are independent from those who use or hire it and were not connected to the incident, Leicestershire Police confirmed.

(c) Sky News 2026: Paedophile camp leader Jon Ruben jailed for 23 years for sexually abusing children he drugged with sweets