Pensioner appears in court after ‘summer camp sweets laced with sedatives’

A 76-year-old man appeared in court after children became unwell at a summer camp where sweets were allegedly laced with sedatives.

Jon Ruben has been charged with child cruelty offenses relating to three boys at Stathern Lodge in Canal Lane, Stathern, Leicestershire, last month.

He appeared at Leicester Crown Court today after being charged with three counts of wilfully assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting, abandoning or exposing children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health between July 25 and 29.

Eight children, all boys aged between eight and 11, and one adult were taken to hospital as a precaution but were discharged after a report was made to police on July 27.

Ruben was arrested in a nearby pub car park before he appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court earlier this month but gave no indication of his pleas.

His plea hearing was adjourned until November 14 and a trial date was set for January 27 next year.

Ruben appeared in the dock for a 16-minute hearing wearing dark grey sweatshirt and spoke only to confirm his name

The previous court hearing was told that the charges relate to sweets which were allegedly laced with sedatives.

neighbors described seeing distressed parents outside the village hall in nearby Plungar, which was used as a triage center for the children on July 28.

Leicestershire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over its handling of the incident.

The force originally said the incident happened on Monday July 28, before amending it to Sunday July 27.

It is unclear whether officers only responded on Monday and whether that is why the force has referred itself to the watchdog.

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