A 76-year-old man has admitted to a horrific catalogue of child sex offences committed at his own holiday camp in Leicestershire, where he systematically drugged and assaulted young boys.
Systematic Abuse Uncovered
Jon Ruben, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to 17 separate charges at Leicester Crown Court on Friday. The charges include 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.
The court heard how Ruben's arrest in July 2025 came after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge holiday camp, bringing his long-running activities to light.
Decades of Suspicious Illnesses
Prosecutor Mary Prior KC revealed disturbing details about the camp's operation, telling the court that Ruben had run the establishment for at least 27 years. She stated there was "a long history of children feeling sick at the camp over many years".
Prior described how Ruben would play what he called a "sweet game" with the children, entering their bedrooms and making them eat "really sticky sweets as quickly as they can but they must chew them". The prosecutor noted that children consistently felt ill the next day, with Ruben dismissing their symptoms as being "overwrought".
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
While Ruben admitted the majority of charges relating to two boys aged 9 and 10, he denied one sexual offence against a nine-year-old boy. Prosecutors have been given two weeks to consider whether they will proceed with this single denied charge.
The 76-year-old has been remanded in custody until a further hearing at the same court later this month, as the full extent of his crimes continues to be investigated.
This case has raised serious questions about safeguarding procedures at holiday camps and how such abuse could continue undetected for so many years.
