Summer camp sex offender admits drugging wife
Just nowMatt TaylorLeicester
FacebookA man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp before sexually assaulting them has admitted drugging his wife so she would not wake while the abuse took place.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in Stathern, Leicestershire, in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to 17 charges at Leicester Crown Court on 14 November.
On Wednesday, the same court was told Ruben had admitted the offence of unlawfully and maliciously administering a noxious substance, temazepam, with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy, after giving a voluntary interview.
Addressing the defendant,
The court heard the offence took place against his wife Susan between 26 and 29 July.
In November, prosecutors had set out how Ruben, who had run a holiday camp for children for at least 27 years, had played a game in which he would go into boys’ rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets “as quickly as they can”.
Ruben had played this game with the boys “for many years”, they said, and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
The 17 charges admitted by Ruben were:
- One count of sexual assault of a child under 13
- One count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration
- Eight counts of cruelty to a person under 16 years, in relation to eight separate victims
- One count of acquiring or possession of dutiable goods, namely temazepam, by fraudulent intent
- Three counts of possession of a Class C drug, namely flubromazolam, diazepam and temazepam
- Three counts of making indecent photographs of children
A search of his belongings uncovered items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes, prompting his stepson to notify police about his concerns.
Devices belonging to Ruben were later analysed by officers and found to contain more than 50 category A indecent videos of children, the most serious category.
Before Ruben was sent to HMP Leicester, where he will remain until he is sentenced, Spencer said: “I understand why you were upset earlier. I will sentence you on Friday.
“It will be a very tough day in your life and it will be a very long day.”
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