"A Christian camp leader who sexually abused young boys after lacing sweets with tranquillisers has been jailed for 23 years and 10 months. Jon Ruben, 76, a retired vet and church youth volunteer, used the cloak of Christianity to carry out sexual assaults on vulnerable children, Leicester crown court heard. As he was sentencing, judge Timothy Spencer told Ruben he would serve a further period on licence, bringing his total sentence to 31 years and eight months."
"Before abusing the boys Ruben laced sweets with tranquilising drugs in a sweet game at a summer camp Stathern Lodge that he ran in Stathern, Leicestershire. Prosecutor Mary Prior, KC, told the court: Over the course of the weekend of 26th to 28th July 2025, the defendant used his cloak of Christianity to poison boys in order to sexually abuse them."
Jon Ruben, 76, a retired vet and church youth volunteer, was jailed for 23 years and 10 months and will serve a further licence period, totalling 31 years and eight months. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child under 13, assault by penetration, child cruelty, making indecent images and drug offences. At a summer camp he ran, Ruben laced sweets with tranquillising drugs to sedate boys, undress them and choose victims, and he put sedatives in his wife's tea. Arrest followed after eight children and an adult fell ill. He bought drugs via the dark web; one victim tested positive for liquid Xanax. Police continue a probe spanning more than 20 years.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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