Trial date set over ‘drug-laced sweets’ at Stathern summer camp

A trial date has been set for a person who was arrested after kids fell in poor health at a summer time camp, the place sweets have been allegedly laced with sedatives.

Jon Ruben, 76, was later charged after eight kids and one grownup from the camp at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire have been taken to hospital.

Mr Ruben, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, faces three counts of wilful in poor health remedy of a kid, relating to 3 boys, between 25 July and 29 July.

He appeared throughout a short listening to at Leicester Crown Court docket, which was adjourned till a plea listening to on the identical court docket on 14 November.

His Honour Decide Timothy Spencer KC advised him he confronted “extraordinarily severe costs”.

The choose mentioned Mr Ruben can be requested to plead to any costs on the subsequent listening to, and he additionally set a provisional trial date of 27 January.

Mr Ruben had beforehand appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 2 August.

Throughout that listening to, the court docket was advised he confronted costs that he wilfully assaulted, ill-treated, uncared for, deserted or uncovered three boys to pointless struggling or damage to well being.

Leicestershire Police mentioned it first acquired a report that kids on the summer time camp on the positioning had turn out to be unwell on 27 July.

The eight kids – who have been all boys aged between eight and 11 – and an grownup have been taken to hospital as a precaution.

The police watchdog, the Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct, mentioned it was investigating the pressure’s dealing with of the incident.

Mr Ruben, of Wayte Court docket, off Landmere Lane in Ruddington, stays in custody.