Man Charged in Leicestershire Summer Camp Incident

Children and Adult Hospitalized as Precaution

A man has been charged with child cruelty offenses following an incident at a summer camp in Stathern, Leicestershire, where several children and an adult reported feeling unwell. The affected individuals were taken to the hospital for precautionary checks but have since been released.

Arrest and Charges

Jonathon Ruben, 76, of Ruddington, Nottingham, is facing three counts of wilful ill treatment. These charges stem from alleged mistreatment of three boys at the camp between July 25 and July 29. He was initially arrested on Monday evening on suspicion of administering a noxious substance with intent to cause harm.

Ruben has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the prosecution of a 76-year-old man with child cruelty offences following a police investigation into a summer camp held at Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire.”

—Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands

Janine McKinney further stated, “This decision has been made after reviewing a file of evidence from Leicestershire Police.” The CPS has urged the public to refrain from any reporting or commentary that could prejudice the active criminal proceedings against Mr Ruben.

Police Referral to IOPC

Leicestershire Police has self-referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) concerning its handling of the case. The force initially reported the incident occurred on Monday but later corrected this to Sunday. It remains unclear if a delay in the police response is the reason for the IOPC’s involvement.

The IOPC confirmed its assessment team reviewed the available evidence and determined that an independent investigation is warranted. This probe will examine any potential breaches of professional conduct, specifically focusing on whether a failure in duties led to a delayed response to what was later declared a critical incident.

In 2023, the UK saw a conviction rate of 84.4% for violent crimes, but child cruelty cases often involve complex investigations that can impact response times and evidence gathering (Source: Ministry of Justice).

Camp Operators Not Connected

The owners and operators of Stathern Lodge have stated they are independent of those who use or hire the facility and have no connection to the incident. The maximum sentence for ill-treatment of a child under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 can be up to 14 years imprisonment.