Young boys were given sweets laced with sedatives in a suspected poisoning at a children’s summer camp, a court has been told.
Jon Ruben, 76, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court this morning accused of child cruelty offences and was remanded in custody.
He has been charged with three offences of wilful ill treatment of a child relating to three boys at the summer camp between July 25 and July 29.
The court was told the charges concern sweets which were allegedly laced with sedatives.
Police received a report on Sunday that children at the camp being held in a lodge in Stathern, Leicestershire, had become ill.
Eight children, all boys aged between eight and 11, and one adult were taken to hospital as a precaution but have all since been discharged.
During the brief four-minute court appearance, the defendant, dressed in a grey sweatshirt, only spoke to verify his name, date of birth, and address.
Ruben was told by chair of the magistrates Elizabeth Needham that he will appear at Leicester Crown Court on August 29.
Jonathan Ruben, 76, has been charged in connection with a suspected poisoning at a children’s summer camp
Aerial view of Stathern Lodge in Canal Lane near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire – the site of the Stathern Children’s Holiday Fund SCHF
The camp provides ‘school clubs or subsidised holidays’ for children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in Nottingham
He gave no indication of his pleas during the hearing on Saturday.
Ruben was arrested on Monday evening at a nearby pub on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.
Police said the ‘owners and operators of Stathern Lodge are independent from those people who use or hire the lodge and are not connected to the incident’.
The lodge is a converted farmhouse with a sports hall and catering facilities.
The summer camp was being run by the Stathern Children’s Holiday Fund SCHF, which provides ‘school clubs or subsidised holidays’ for children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in Nottingham.
Ruben, a veterinary surgeon whose business was dissolved last August according to Companies House records, is listed as a trustee of the charity.
Yesterday, a Nottinghamshire Police car remained outside Mr Ruben’s bungalow at affluent Ruddington, on the edge of the city.
Neighbours said there had been police activity at the property since Monday.
A local resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: ‘We haven’t seen any white-suited forensics teams, but what we assume are detectives have been coming in and out, and taking bags of stuff away.
On Thursday, Leicestershire Police said the suspect had been arrested on suspicion of administering poison or a ‘noxious thing’ with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy
A police car at the site – neighbours said there had been police activity at the property since Monday
Police are pictured at the scene in Stathern, Leicestershire, after a 76-year-old man was arrested
‘Eventually we went and asked them because we were so worried. They were really tight-lipped, but eventually all they would say when we asked them the specific question was that there hadn’t been any loss of life.
‘They said we would find out eventually, and on Thursday we did.’
The neighbour said police had been at the address ’24/7′ since arriving on Monday.
The resident added: ‘The whole thing is a complete and utter shock. We gather he has run the charity for a long time – it is a wonderful cause and does a lot of good work. He is a lovely guy, and they are a lovely couple.
‘They are really good neighbours – we usually see him walking his two dogs. We haven’t seen the wife since Monday.
‘We knew he was doing camps this summer, although we didn’t know he was away at the weekend. We last saw him on Thursday last week.
‘To be honest we are hoping it is all a terrible mistake.’
Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the prosecution of a 76-year-old man with child cruelty offences following a police investigation into a summer camp held at Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire.
Assistant Chief Constable James Avery speaks during a press conference at the scene in Stathern
‘This decision has been made after reviewing a file of evidence from Leicestershire Police.
‘Jonathon Ruben will be charged with three offences of wilful ill treatment of a child relating to three boys. He will appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday August 1.
‘This has been an extremely upsetting and shocking moment for the community, and especially for the children and parents most directly affected.
‘We would like to remind all concerned that there are now active criminal proceedings against Mr Ruben and he has the right to a fair trial.
‘There must be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online that may in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
