Summer camp leader who drugged and sexually abused boys jailed for more than 23 years

A former vet has been jailed for 23 years and 10 months after drugging and sexually abusing young boys at summer camps.

Jon Ruben, who was labelled by his wife as a “sadistic, monstrous paedophile”, used the “cloak of Christianity” to carry out his sex attacks on vulnerable children, Leicester Crown Court heard.

Sentencing judge Timothy Spencer KC told the 76-year-old he would serve a further period on licence, bringing his total sentence to 31 years and eight months.

Ruben laced sweets with tranquilising drugs and attacked two children last year after playing “a sweet game” with the youngsters at a summer camp at Stathern Lodge, in Stathern, Leicestershire.

He previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, eight counts of child cruelty, three counts of making indecent images of children and four drugs charges.

He later admitted administering a poison or noxious substance – temazepam – to his partner last summer so she would not wake up while he sexually assaulted the children.

At his sentencing hearing on Friday, Judge Spencer told Ruben: “Ultimately, this case is about you achieving sexual gratification by carrying out your sexual fantasies focused upon young boys through careful, cynical, chilling preparation and by manipulation.”

Ruben’s wife told the court she felt “completely betrayed”.

She said: “He spent decades trying to paint a picture that he was a righteous, honourable man, when he was actually a sadistic, monstrous paedophile.”

Continuing his sentencing remarks, Judge Spencer said: “There is undoubtedly a deliberate disregard for the welfare of victims.

“In the final analysis, this was the deliberate drugging of boys aged between eight and 11 years to facilitate sexual assaults without detection, and the harm is at the highest level.”

He continued: “There are in reports, Jon Ruben, frequent references to you being a risk taker throughout your life.

“In my judgment, given the opportunity, you would continue to take risks, and that would amount to risk of causing serious harm to others.

“I have no hesitation in concluding that you are dangerous within the meaning of the law.”

Ruben, of Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, was arrested in July last year after a total of eight children were taken to hospital and liquid Xanax was found to have been used on some of the victims.

Ruben’s stepson raised concerns with his partner during a camp after finding baby oil, syringes containing white powder, and other items.

Addressing what had happened over a weekend last summer, prosecutor Mary Prior KC told the court: “The defendant used his cloak of Christianity and his position of authority and trust to poison ten boys aged between eight and 11 years of age in order to sexually abuse them.”

Several youngsters had fallen ill after playing the so-called sweet game and were seen the next morning “walking into walls and in the wrong direction”.