Camp leader who abused boys after lacing sweets is ‘sadistic, monstrous paedophile’, wife says as he is jailed
A summer camp leader who sexually abused young boys after taking naps with sedatives was a “sadistic, monstrous pedophile”, his wife told a court while in prison.
Jon Ruben, 76, was sentenced to 23 years and 10 months in prison at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
The former vet challenged the children to a quick meal in a “sweet game” he played at the camp he runs at Stathern Lodge in Stathern, Leicestershire. Ruben also sedated his wife so she wouldn’t wake up during the abuse.
After eight children and one adult fell ill at the camp, Ruben was arrested last July and later pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two boys, as well as eight counts of cruelty to children.
He also admitted to giving poison or harmful substances to his wife, Susan, earlier this week during the weekend break.
Ruben also admitted taking indecent photographs of children and four drug charges.
Ms Ruben told the sentencing hearing that the defendant had “spent decades painting a picture of him as an honest and honorable man, when in fact he was a sadistic, monstrous pedophile”.
His wife did not look up and sobbed at various points while making a victim impact statement.
He said they were supposed to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary next week but started divorce proceedings after his arrest.
“This was not the man I thought I was marrying… My life, along with other people’s, was turned upside down,” she told the court.
“I have now learned that I had no idea who Jon Ruben was, and I feel completely betrayed by the massive breach of trust he inflicted on me, the children, and their parents.”
Ruben ran holiday camps for children in disadvantaged areas of Nottinghamshire for at least 27 years.
There is a long history of children falling ill at the camp, an earlier hearing heard at the rented property, which is not linked to the camp.
Prosecutor Ms Prior KC told the sentencing hearing that Ruben’s knowledge of the poisoning had been “developed over many years” and his actions had been “premeditated and planned”.
“The defendant illegally purchased these tranquilizers after carefully researching the amount he needed, using his skills as a veterinarian to equalize the amount needed to sedate the animals, and crushed and injected specially selected very sweet, very sticky candies,” he added.
The day after being anesthetized, the children were described as “tired, sluggish and appearing to be drunk.”
The defendant thought the sedative was tezepam, but it was actually liquid Xanax because it was purchased on the dark web.
The court heard Ruben took a bag containing baby oil, petroleum jelly and other items to the summer camp to “help him commit the crime”.
Ms Prior said she “carefully selected” her boys, placing them in rooms closest to the bedroom and away from the others.
Ruben tried to interrupt the sentencing hearing by shouting “no” after Ms Prior told the court she had breached her own safety rules.
Judge Timothy Spencer KC told Ruben he couldn’t shout and didn’t want to hear him shout from the bench again.
“I’m sorry, Your Honor, I’m sorry,” the defendant said, crying and holding his hand to his face.
Ruben leaned forward in the dock with his head in his hands as graphic details of how he molested the boys were read to the court.
Some of the parents of the victims in the courtroom cried while the details were read, while others left the room.
As the judge ruled that the defendant should remain where he was, Ruben cried and said, “I’m so sorry” in the dock.
The mother of one of Ruben’s victims described the defendant as “a creature who does not experience any emotions” in a statement read to the court.
The mother of another child said Ruben “ruined these children’s lives.”
He told the court: “We all know who is to blame for this and it’s you, Jon Ruben.”
At the end of her statement, the boy’s mother said: “They’re just kids. Little did we know this was part of your grooming. You disgusting, despicable man.”
Ruben’s stepson became suspicious during the camp and searched the culprit’s room; There he found syringes with baby oil and white powder. Leicestershire Police were called but did not arrive until the next day.
The force, which referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), went to the camp, about 18 miles from Nottingham, and found eight children and adults disturbed. Further investigation revealed that two boys under the age of 13 had been sexually assaulted.
Ruben was tracked down and arrested at a nearby bar where he went with some of the children from the camp.
In mitigation, the defense attorney told the court that Ruben was “the epitome of remorse.”
Thomas Schofield KC said: “His apology letters to the victims, if they accept them, are an expression of genuine regret.”
Sentencing, Judge Spencer said: “The impact of his crimes, Jon Ruben, is obvious and is being felt in this court.”
He added: “The impact was absolutely devastating. “The impact on the boys, on those depicted in the images, on those who went to the camps, on the parents, can last a lifetime.
“Of course, it will take many years to come to terms with all of this, even partially.”
The judge continued: “Ultimately, this case is about obtaining sexual gratification by fulfilling your sexual fantasies for young men through careful, cynical, chilling preparation and manipulation.”
Parents of the young victims shook their heads and some wiped away tears as the sentence was announced.
The indecent image charges to which Ruben admitted relate to 50 Category A indecent videos of children, 22 Category B videos and seven Category C videos taken between August 2023 and June this year. None of the images in question are about kids at summer camp.
