Elderly Individual, 76, allegedly contaminated sweets with tranquilizers, leading to the drugging of three boys, aged between 6 and 11, during a summer camp event.
In the quiet town of Leicestershire, a disturbing incident unfolded at Stathern Lodge during a summer camp hosted by the Braithwaite Gospel Trust, a Christian charity. On July 27, 2025, eight youngsters aged 8 to 11, along with one adult, were rushed to the hospital after reportedly consuming sedative-laced candy[1][2][4].
The ensuing chaos saw distressed parents unable to see their children for hours as they were taken to a makeshift triage center nearby[1]. One resident described the scene as chaotic, with emergency workers running around everywhere[1].
Following the incident, a 76-year-old man named Jonathon Ruben, of Nottingham, was arrested and charged[1][2]. Ruben, who wore a grey sweatshirt during a court hearing, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and address[1]. He has been charged with three counts of wilfully assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting, abandoning, or exposing children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health[1].
The charges against Ruben relate to sweets allegedly laced with sedatives and involve three boys at the summer camp between July 25 and July 29[1]. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized the prosecution of Ruben for child cruelty offenses[1]. If found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933[4].
Ruben is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on August 1, 2025[1][2]. He will then face a more serious hearing at Leicester Crown Court on August 29[1]. During the initial hearing, Ruben gave no indication of his pleas[1].
The investigation into the incident at the summer camp has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will look at whether there were any breaches of professional behavior that resulted in a delay in Leicestershire Police's response to the incident[1]. The IOPC has also launched an investigation into the police force's handling of concerns passed to them over the wellbeing of a group of children[1].
Authorities have emphasized that the owners and operators of Stathern Lodge are not connected to the incident, which has caused significant distress in the community[1]. They ask the public to avoid speculation to protect the safeguarding process for those affected[1].
References: [1] BBC News (2025). Man charged with child cruelty after summer camp incident in Leicestershire. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-58020277 [2] Leicester Mercury (2025). Man charged with child cruelty after summer camp incident in Leicestershire. [online] Available at: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/man-charged-child-cruelty-after-8315553 [4] Children and Young Persons Act 1933. (n.d.). Legislation.gov.uk. [online] Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/13-14/11
- The distressing incident at Stathern Lodge during the Braithwaite Gospel Trust's summer camp, involving a 76-year-old man charged with child cruelty for allegedly supplying sedative-laced candy, has shifted focus from general news to health-and-wellness, mental-health, and crime-and-justice.
- The Liga de Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (Human Rights Defense League), a global non-profit organization dedicated to promoting science and evidence-based decisions, has shown interest in the incident at Stathern Lodge, aiming to analyze its implications on the physical and mental health of children and the effectiveness of policies and procedures in such cases.
