A pensioner suspected of poisoning children at a summer camp has been pictured for the first time.
Jonathon Ruben, 76, has been charged with three counts of wilful ill treatment relating to three boys at a summer camp held at Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire after eight children fell ill there on Sunday, July 27.
He’s due to appear at Leicester magistrates court on Saturday morning, August 2.
Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said: “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.
“This decision has been made after reviewing a file of evidence from Leicestershire Police.
“Jonathon Ruben will be charged with three offences of wilful ill treatment of a child relating to three boys.
“This has been an extremely upsetting and shocking moment for the community, and especially for the children and parents most directly affected.
“We would like to remind all concerned that there are now active criminal proceedings against Mr Ruben and he has the right to a fair trial.
“There must be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online that may in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
A mum whose son was due to attend the camp told Metro it was run by Stathern Children’s Holiday Fund, which runs trips for children in Nottingham’s socially deprived areas.
The mum said: “They said we were able to send £5 for each child for the tuck shop. I had a phone call off the police but they couldn’t tell me anything.
“The camp should be closed down, we can’t trust anyone with our kids.”
Police said eight children aged between eight and 11, as well as one adult, were taken to hospital as a precaution and have all since been discharged.
The ambulance service set up a triage centre at the village hall in nearby Plungar to assess all the youngsters attending the camp.
June Grant, 83, former bookings secretary at the hall, said: “There were so many sirens. You could hear the ambulances and police cars whizzing round the village.
“It was pretty scary but such good news that the children are OK.”
Another resident, who lives near the hall, said: “It was pretty chaotic with emergency workers running around everywhere.
“I saw a few children in tears as they walked into the hall. It’s like every parent’s worst nightmare.”
A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said: “The charges follow a report received on Sunday that children at a summer camp being held at Stathern Lodge in Canal Lane, Stathern, near Melton, had become unwell.
“Emergency services attended the scene and eight children, who were all boys aged between eight and 11, were taken to hospital as a precaution.
“An adult was also taken to hospital. All have since been discharged.
“The owners and operators of Stathern Lodge are independent from those people who use or hire the lodge and are not connected to the incident.
“This is an active criminal investigation and we ask that people do not speculate further about the incident, particularly on social media platforms.
“Leicestershire Police continues to work closely with partners ensuring that full safeguarding is provided to all those affected.”
The force has referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over their initial handling of concerns passed to officers about the children’s wellbeing.
The IOPC said: “Our assessment team has examined all available evidence and concluded the matter should be independently investigated by the IOPC.
“The investigation will look at whether there were any breaches of professional behaviour – namely a failure to carry out duties and responsibilities – that resulted in a delay in Leicestershire Police’s response to what was later declared a critical incident.”
