A Christian camp leader who drugged and sexually abused young boys has been sentenced to 23 years and 10 months in prison. Jon Ruben, 76, a retired vet and church youth volunteer from Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, used his position of trust to target vulnerable children at a summer camp in Leicestershire.
Leicester Crown Court heard that Ruben laced sweets with tranquillisers and administered them to boys at Stathern Lodge camp in Stathern. He also drugged his wife's tea to conceal his nighttime activities. Prosecutor Mary Prior KC said Ruben used his 'cloak of Christianity' to poison and abuse the children, with the sedation intended to ensure they were heavily asleep so he could undress and assault them.
Ruben pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including 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, and four drugs charges. He was arrested in July 2025 after eight children and an adult fell ill at the camp. The court heard he used the dark web to buy what he thought was temazepam, but one victim tested positive for liquid Xanax, and he also took Viagra to facilitate his offending.
Judge Spencer imposed a total sentence of 31 years and eight months, including a licence period. He described the case as being about 'sexual gratification by carrying out sexual fantasies focused upon young boys through careful, cynical, chilling preparation and manipulation'. Leicestershire Police said they are continuing to investigate Ruben's involvement with children over more than 20 years.
Ruben's wife, Susan, said she felt 'completely betrayed', describing him as a 'sadistic, monstrous paedophile'. The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham expressed profound shock, and the chief crown prosecutor for the East Midlands called Ruben a 'relentless predator'. In a statement, the victims' families said Ruben 'took away our children's right to be children, to be safe and protected'.
