Poisoning young children with candies may be the handiwork of Englishmen, according to some reports.
In a shocking incident, a 76-year-old man named Jon Ruben has been charged with attempted child abuse after allegedly poisoning children at a summer camp in Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire, England. Ruben is accused of giving boys candy laced with a sedative at the camp, resulting in eight boys aged 8 to 11 and an adult being taken to hospital as a precaution. All have since been discharged.
Court Proceedings
Ruben appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Saturday, August 2, 2025. He faces three charges related to willful assault and ill-treatment of children causing unnecessary suffering or injury to health. He did not enter a plea during this brief hearing and was ordered to remain in detention until a further hearing scheduled for August 19, 2025.
Investigation Status
The East Midlands Specialist Operations Unit Major Investigation Team, a collaborative unit involving several regional police forces, is leading this "complex investigation." Ruben was arrested at a nearby pub on Monday evening after the incident was reported on Sunday, July 27, 2025. A police cordon remains in place at Stathern Lodge. Authorities emphasize that the lodge owners are not connected to the incident.
The nature of the poisoning and the source of the sweets remain unclear. The incident took place on the last day of a summer camp in the village of Stathern, with the charges relating to three boys who attended the camp between July 25 and 29.
Separate Police Investigation
In a separate development, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the officers in the Leicestershire district for suspected unprofessional conduct. The source of the investigation is the IOPC, and it's important to note that this investigation is not related to the charges against Ruben.
Impact on the Community
Janine McKinney, the chief crown prosecutor for the East Midlands region, described the incident as "very distressing." She emphasized the impact on the affected children and parents in the community.
This information gives a current overview of the charges, court proceedings, and ongoing investigation related to the alleged poisoning at the summer camp. Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation continues.
[1] BBC News. (2025, July 30). Man charged with poisoning children at Leicestershire summer camp. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-58170227
[2] The Guardian. (2025, July 30). Man charged with poisoning children at Leicestershire summer camp. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/30/man-charged-with-poisoning-children-at-leicestershire-summer-camp
[3] Sky News. (2025, August 2). Man charged with attempted child abuse at Leicestershire summer camp. Retrieved from https://news.sky.com/story/man-charged-with-attempted-child-abuse-at-leicestershire-summer-camp-12588373
Community policy regarding child safety is expected to be a topic of discussion in light of the recent incident at Stathern Lodge summer camp, where a 76-year-old man named Jon Ruben is accused of giving children candy laced with a sedative, resulting in a large-scale health-and-wellness concern. Science, specifically the nature of the poisoning and the source of the sweets, remains unclear.
In addition to the crime-and-justice ramifications, general-news coverage and the health-and-wellness sector are focusing on the distressing impact of this incident on the affected children and parents within the community. Moreover, a separate investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is underway concerning suspected unprofessional conduct among officers in the Leicestershire district, though it's not directly related to the charges against Ruben.
