Retired Vet Receives 24-Year Sentence for Horrific Summer Camp Abuse
A retired veterinarian who exploited his position of trust and Christian faith to drug and sexually abuse young boys at a summer camp has been sentenced to almost 24 years in prison. Jon Ruben, 76, used his veterinary knowledge to calculate precise doses of sedatives, which he injected into sweets before playing a "sweet game" with his victims.
Decades of Deception and Abuse
Ruben had been involved with summer camps at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire for three decades, where he presented himself as a pillar of the community. The court heard how he used his veterinary "skill set" to research and administer sedatives purchased from the dark web, specifically targeting prepubescent boys.
The prosecution revealed chilling details of Ruben's methodology:
- He injected crushed sedatives into wrapped sweets using a hypodermic syringe
- Created a "sweet game" where children competed to eat three treats fastest
- Drugged his own wife with Temazepam to prevent her from waking during his attacks
- Selected victims from church classes and youth groups he supervised
Community Betrayal and Devastating Impact
Judge Timothy Spencer described Ruben's actions as "careful, cynical, chilling preparation" that represented a gross betrayal of community trust. Parents wept in court as details emerged of their children being drugged to unconsciousness before being sexually assaulted.
The emotional toll on victims has been severe, with one mother describing how her son now refuses to accept sweets from anyone and has begun self-harming. Another parent told Ruben directly: "I want you to die... you disgusting vile man."
Dark Web Drugs and Veterinary Knowledge
Ruben purchased what he believed to be Temazepam from the dark web, though testing revealed the drugs were actually Flubromazolam - a potentially lethal substance similar to date rape drugs. His veterinary background allowed him to calculate dosages based on animal sedation requirements, which he then applied to children.
Prosecutor Mary Prior KC told the court: "His choice to retrain later in life gave him access to prepubescent children. The defendant illegally purchased sedatives which, having carefully researched the quantity he needed, using his skill set as a vet to equate the amount needed to sedate animals, he crushed and injected into specially chosen very sweet, very sticky sweets."
Wife's Devastating Discovery
Susan Ruben, who is now divorcing her husband, told the court she had been "rocked to my very core" to discover he had drugged her tea at the camp. She described the man she married as a "sadistic, monstrous paedophile" who had effectively lived a double life for decades.
"Next week we were meant to be celebrating our silver wedding anniversary," she said. "My life has been turned upside down. He spent decades trying to paint a picture that he was a righteous, honourable man, when he was actually a sadistic, monstrous paedophile."
Extensive Investigation and Ongoing Concerns
Police discovered disturbing evidence including indecent images of children, a "paedophile application" describing violent fantasies, and handwritten confessional notes. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Holden expressed concern that this could represent a "huge, historical abuse case" with potentially many more victims.
Ruben pleaded guilty to multiple charges including assault of a child under 13 by penetration, sexual assault, eight counts of child cruelty, three counts of making indecent images of children, and four drugs charges. He received a sentence of 23 years and ten months with an extended licence period of eight years.
The case has prompted a multi-agency review of background checking procedures, while Leicestershire Police have established a special hotline for other potential victims to come forward.
