Children hospitalized following man's distribution of sleep-inducing substance in sweets
76-Year-Old Man Charged with Child Cruelty Offenses at Stathern Lodge Summer Camp
A 76-year-old man named Jonathon Ruben has been charged with child cruelty offenses following an incident at a summer camp held at Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire.
The incident occurred between July 25 and July 29, 2025, during which eight boys and one adult fell ill. All were hospitalized as a precaution and have since been discharged.
The police received the report of the children falling ill at the Stathern Lodge camp on Sunday, July 27, 2025. The police have emphasized that the owners and operators of Stathern Lodge are separate from those who use or hire the venue and are not connected to the incident.
The police have also referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the handling of the case due to unclear initial reporting about the incident date and police response.
Reports suggest that sedative-laced candy may have been given to the children, contributing to their illnesses. However, the official charges focus on wilful ill treatment relating to three boys.
Jonathon Ruben was charged with attempted grievous bodily harm, child cruelty offenses, ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment, and exposing children to something likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health. He did not enter a plea during the hearing and made no further statements beyond his name, age, and address.
The next hearing for Jonathon Ruben will take place on August 29 at Leicester Crown Court. No additional charges have been announced against him at this time, and no information was provided about potential witnesses or evidence presented during the hearing.
This incident has been deeply upsetting for the community, particularly the children and families affected. The Crown Prosecution Service has emphasized the gravity of the situation. The investigations regarding the incident at Stathern Lodge summer camp continue, and more updates are expected to follow.
[1] BBC News, "Stathern Lodge summer camp incident: Man charged with child cruelty offences," July 31, 2025. [2] Leicester Mercury, "Stathern Lodge summer camp incident: Man charged with child cruelty offences," July 31, 2025. [3] ITV News, "Stathern Lodge summer camp incident: Man charged with child cruelty offences," July 31, 2025. [4] Sky News, "Stathern Lodge summer camp incident: Man charged with child cruelty offences," July 31, 2025.
The international health-and-wellness community expresses concern over the incident at Stathern Lodge Summer Camp, where a 76-year-old man was charged with child cruelty offenses and health-related crimes. The world watches as the general news outlets report further updates on the ongoing investigation into the crime-and-justice case.
