Summer Camp Leader Guilty to Drugging Wife So He Could R*pe Children Using Tranquilizer-Laced Sweets

A holiday camp leader who ran trips for disadvantaged children has admitted drugging his wife so she remained unconscious while he sedated young boys with tranquilliser-laced sweets and sexually abused them.

Jon Ruben, 76, pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court on 4 February 2026 to administering a poison or noxious substance to his wife, Susan Ruben, between 26 and 29 July 2025.

The new plea adds to 17 earlier admissions in November 2025, including sexual assault and assault by penetration of boys under 13, in a case police say uncovered a prolonged pattern of abuse at a camp held at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire, a three-day holiday event.

Investigators described a pattern of abuse that spanned years, in which Ruben lured children into consuming sweets laced with tranquillising drugs before committing sexual offences.

Appalling Abuse Hidden Under The Guise Of Holiday Fun

Prosecutors told the court that Ruben had run holiday camps for at least 27 years, presenting them as safe breaks for under-privileged families.

On the evenings of 26 and 27 July 2025, he became particularly brazen in his methods. He asked groups of young boys to play a so-called 'sweet game', during which he encouraged them to consume confectionery he had tampered with by injecting tranquillising substances.

After the game, several children aged between eight and 11 became severely unwell, exhibiting slurred speech, difficulty walking, and an inability to wake fully the following morning. Eight children and one adult were taken to hospital following the incident.

Police officers arrived at the camp after reports of the children's deteriorating condition. Ruben was found nearby with some of the youngsters and was arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.

Toxicology analyses later confirmed the presence of sedative compounds in the sweets and in blood samples from affected children. Search teams also found syringes and drug paraphernalia in Ruben's possession.

The Guilty Pleas And Criminal Charges

In November 2025, Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 offences including sexual assault of a child under 13, assault by penetration of a child under 13, eight counts of child cruelty, three counts of making indecent images of children, and four drugs offences.

The indecent imagery charges related to more than 50 category A videos, the most serious classification, and additional category B and C videos found on his devices. None of the material was directly linked to children at the camp, prosecutors said, but indicated a wider pattern of criminal behaviour.

At Wednesday's hearing, Ruben added a further guilty plea to administering a poison to his wife so she would not wake up during his offences against children. The prosecutor, Mary Prior KC, told the court that Ruben had requested a voluntary interview with police during which he admitted the spousal offence.

The court heard that the tranquillising drug Temazepam was used in the offence against Mrs Ruben, administered over several days to ensure she remained asleep.

During the plea, Ruben sat in the dock wearing a blue shirt and beige trousers. He broke down and said, 'I'm so sorry' after entering his guilty plea on the additional charge.

Investigation And Community Response

Leicestershire Police and the East Midlands Ambulance Service attended the scene after the July incident. Eight young boys were taken to hospital as a precaution, and one adult was treated and later discharged.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Neil Holden described the case as a 'horrific, complex and emotional investigation involving multiple young, innocent, vulnerable victims', emphasising the force's commitment to supporting victims' welfare.

The investigation took several months to piece together, with detectives taking statements, analysing forensic evidence and examining Ruben's digital devices. Follow-up enquiries uncovered the evidence that led to the additional charge against his wife.

Parents and local residents expressed shock and dismay at the revelations, noting that Ruben's camps had long been perceived as benevolent community events. Local authorities and children's charities have urged families to come forward with any information related to the case via the police public portal.

The owners and operators of Stathern Lodge, the premises where the holiday camps were held, said they were not connected to the incident and had no involvement in Ruben's criminal acts.

Sentencing Warnings At Leicester Crown Court

Judge Timothy Spencer KC presided over the hearing and warned that sentencing, due on 6 February 2026, would be 'a very tough day in your life' for Ruben, given the gravity of the offences.

A court's forthcoming sentence will determine Ruben's punishment for what prosecutors have called a catalogue of abuse spanning decades.

The court heard that the owners of the Stathern Lodge premises had no involvement in the defendant's criminal acts.

Ruben remains in custody pending the final judgment, which will determine his punishment for these high-profile offences.

Ruben's case serves as a grim reminder of the potential for harm when oversight fails and trust is exploited.