In Leicestershire, UK, a 76-year-old man, Jon Ruben, has appeared in court on charges of child cruelty following a troubling incident at a summer camp. The camp, located at Stathern Lodge in Stathern, reported that multiple children had fallen ill, prompting immediate action by Leicestershire Police. On Monday, eight boys, aged between 8 and 11, along with one adult, were transported to the hospital as a safety measure, although all have since been discharged.
Ruben, a resident of Wayte Court in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, faces three counts of willful ill treatment of a child, relating specifically to three boys, with the alleged incidents occurring from July 25 to July 29. During a brief appearance at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, Ruben, dressed in a grey tracksuit, did not enter a plea.
After being remanded in custody, he is scheduled to appear before Leicester Crown Court on August 29. The alarm was initially raised on Sunday, leading to the police investigation. In addition, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is looking into the police’s response to the situation.