Summer camp abuser loses appeal against 23-year sentence

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 15:02 · Archive

Jon Ruben, 77, who drugged boys with tranquilliser-laced sweets before sexually assaulting them, has lost his Court of Appeal bid to reduce his prison sentence.

Jon Ruben, 77, a former vet from Nottinghamshire, was jailed for 23 years and 10 months in February after his abuse came to light when children fell ill at a summer camp he was running in Stathern, Leicestershire, in July 2025. On Friday, a Court of Appeal panel rejected his bid to reduce the length of his sentence, though judges made a technical correction to its structure.

Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 offences including sexual assault of a child under 13, assault by penetration, and eight counts of child cruelty. He had used a "sweet game" in which he entered boys' rooms at bedtime and encouraged them to eat sweets laced with drugs. He also admitted drugging his wife to prevent her waking while he carried out the abuse. When police were called to the camp, they discovered baby oil, Vaseline and syringes.

Ruben's legal team argued the sentence was "manifestly excessive" and that the sentencing judge had not properly considered his remorse. They also claimed there was "double counting" in the calculation when two boys were drugged. The Crown Prosecution Service opposed the appeal, pointing to the severe impact on victims, particularly a young child who had to comprehend what happened while he was asleep. Ruben will serve a total sentence of 31 years and 10 months including a licence period.

How it is being reported

• Vile summer camp abuser who drugged boys with sweets loses appeal bid to cut sentenceJon Ruben drugged boys before sexually assaulting them at the summer campLeicestershire Live · 23 Oct, 14:19
• Summer camp abuser has sentence appeal rejectedJon Ruben, 77, who fed his victims drug-laced sweets, challenges his prison sentence.BBC Leicester · 23 Oct, 14:08

In this story: Jon Ruben · Stathern Lodge · Leicestershire · Leicester Crown Court · Court of Appeal

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