A retired vet and church youth volunteer who drugged young boys with laced sweets and sexually abused them at a Christian summer camp has been jailed for 23 years and 10 months. Jon Ruben, 76, from Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, used what the court described as a 'cloak of Christianity' to carry out the assaults on vulnerable children at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire.
Leicester Crown Court heard that Ruben laced sweets with tranquilisers in a 'sweet game' before abusing the boys. He also sedated his wife with drugs in her tea so she would not notice his absence at night. The judge, Mr Recorder Spencer, told Ruben he would serve a further period on licence, bringing his total sentence to 31 years and eight months. Ruben pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child under 13, assault by penetration, eight counts of child cruelty, three counts of making indecent images, and four drugs charges.
Leicestershire police continue to investigate Ruben's involvement with children over more than 20 years. He was a member of the church council at St Peter's in Ruddington and a volunteer with young people. The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, Paul Williams, said he was 'profoundly shocked' by the abuse of trust. The chief crown prosecutor for the East Midlands, Janine McKinney, described Ruben as 'a relentless predator' hiding behind a respectable veneer.
In a statement read outside court, victims' families said: 'Jon Ruben portrayed himself as a good Christian man... but what we have found out is that Jon is a devious child sexual predator. He took away our children’s right to be children, to be safe and protected.'
