Summer camp sex offender admits drugging wife so he could abuse children

A 76-year-old man has admitted to drugging his wife after pleading guilty to sexual offences against children at a summer camp.

John Ruben previously admitted to 17 charges after allegedly attacking two children and lacing sweets with sedatives at a summer camp in Stathern Lodge, Melton Mowbray, this summer.

In court today, Ruben admitted to drugging his wife, Susan Ruben, between July 26 and 29 last year, so she would not wake up while he sexually assaulted the children.

Ruben had previously admitted to sexually assaulting two boys at the camp and to child cruelty towards six other victims.

The 76-year-old ran the camp, and Mary Prior KC previously said he played a ‘sweet game’ with the children, and asked them to eat the laced sweets as ‘quickly’ as they could.

The court heard his stepson became wary of the situation and searched his things, where he found baby oil, Vaseline and syringes.

Police later found that Ruben had more than 50 Category A indecent videos of children – the most severe category for indecent material.

In total, Ruben admitted sexual assault of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, eight counts of child cruelty, three counts of making indecent images of children and four drug charges.

He will be sentenced on February 6, with presiding judge Timothy Spencer KC telling Ruben today: ‘A significant sentence of imprisonment is coming your way, you understand that?’

Ruben replied: ‘Yes your honour, I understand that.’

The defendant, who ran a holiday camp for at least 27 years, said ‘I’m so sorry’ after entering his guilty plea.

The camps were billed as ‘safe havens, fostering friendships, building skills and sparking potential’.

Residential holidays for up to 70 children aged eight to 11 are hosted at Stathern Lodge.

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