Man, 76, remanded in custody after summer camp 'sweets laced with sedatives'
Alarm was raised when youngsters started feeling ill at a camp near Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire, on Sunday.
Eight boys, aged between eight and 11, and one adult were taken to hospital as a precaution before being discharged.
Pensioner Jon Ruben, 76, is suspected of poisoning children at the camp.
He was 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, relating to three boys at the summer camp between July 25 and July 29.
The charges relate to sweets which were allegedly laced with sedatives. More Trending
Now he has been remanded in custody after he appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court, charged with child cruelty today.
Ruben appeared in the dock in a grey sweatshirt and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the short hearing.
He did not give any indication of a plea today, and he is due to appear again at the same court on August 29.
Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
MORE: Gunman who tried to kidnap Princess Anne let loose and claims 'I'm innocent'
MORE: Four dead in mass shooting at Montana bar with gunman on the loose
MORE: First picture of man, 76, charged after children 'poisoned' at summer camp
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
43 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Police want help identifying two men after popular sweet shop was targeted by burglars
Police want help identifying two men after popular sweet shop was targeted by burglars South Wales Police have appealed for help in identifying two men after a burglary left significant damage to a shop Police are looking to speak to these men (Image: South Wales Police) Police have asked for help identifying two men as part of an investigation into a burglary at a Neath Port Talbot shop that resulted in significant damage. The traditional sweets shop called Sweet Delights was broken into at New Road, Skewen earlier this year. The burglary took place on Friday, March 21, at 2.15am and saw significant damage being done to the shop's façade. It appeared that someone forcibly entered the shop by breaking in through the main door, damaging a mechanism and shattering a window in the process. Ashley Couch, who runs the shop with his partner Rebecca Couch, told WalesOnline in March 2025 that they were alerted to the damage by a DPD driver who had called him after seeing the damage. The damage to left to the Sweet Delights shop in the wake of the burglary (Image: Ashley Couch) Mr Couch told WalesOnline: "At around 7am on Friday (March 21), we had a phone call off a guy who was doing deliveries in the local area, to tell us that our windows had been smashed. "We left the house straight away and when we arrived, we noticed that somebody had broken in. I was devastated, it's my little family business, it's one of those things where we have built it from scratch - only for someone to come along and destroy it all." Sweet Delights was opened in February, 2023, and specialises in retro pick and mix sweets like Swansea mixture and sherbet pips. Mr Couch said at the time that children had been left crying after the burglary as they thought the shop would be closed for good. Mr Couch had explained: "The community of Skewen has been behind us and trying to help us as much as they can. Everyone loves coming to my shop, because it takes them back to their childhood. "You don't see many sweet shops where you can get sweets out of a jar anymore. "When it happened, we were up there early before the kids were going to school, and the kids were going past and half of them were crying because they thought it was gone." It was expected that the damage would require thousands to fix. Now, South Wales Police is looking to identify the two men pictured above, who may be able to help with the investigation. In a post on the Facebook page, the force wrote: "Officers continue to investigate a burglary at a commercial premises on New Road, Skewen, Neath Port Talbot which took place at around 2.15am on Friday, March 21 and are appealing for any new information. "Substantial damage was caused to the shop façade in order to gain entry. "Officers are seeking to identify the two men pictured, who were seen on CCTV in proximity to the premises. "Though the resolution is limited, we are hoping that their general appearance, alongside the vehicle, could be recognised. Article continues below "Anyone with information should contact 101, quoting 2500089261." The force told WalesOnline no arrests have yet been made in relation to the incident.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Police Scotland sends report to prosecutors after Glasgow councillor charged with fraud
Labour veteran Frank McAveety was arrested and charged earlier this year in connection with fraud offences. Police have sent a report to prosecutors after a former Labour leader of Glasgow City Council was charged with fraud offences. Frank McAveety is a former Labour MSP and Cabinet Minister who also led the council on two occasions. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said in April: 'A 62-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with fraud offences in the Glasgow area between 2022 and 2024. 'A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.' The force has now told the Record a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. McAveety represents the Shettleston ward and is currently listed as an independent. He was leader of Glasgow council between 1997 and 1999, and between 2015 and 2017. Here you can get your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Daily Record, Sunday Mail and Record Online. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. You can also check out our social media channels for live us on Twitter @Record_Politics for the latest news. Or you can catch all the action by following our team: @paulhutcheon, @andrewjquinn97 and @dennynews. We're on Facebook where you can join our Record Politics group for all our stories. We also have a weekly politics podcast, Planet Holyrood, which you can listen to Spotify or Apple music, or watch on the Daily Record YouTube channel.
South Wales Guardian
5 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Jay Blades in court after separate rape charges emerge
West Mercia Police said the 55-year-old is due to appear at Telford Magistrates' Court on August 13 on the rape charges. On Tuesday, Blades, who fronted primetime BBC show The Repair Shop, appeared at Worcester Crown Court via video link for a preliminary hearing in relation to the controlling or coercive behaviour charge. Blades, who wore animal-print spectacles, a grey suit and a blue polka-dot tie, spoke only to confirm his name during a short hearing. The TV star previously denied engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour towards his estranged wife Lisa-Marie Zbozen between January 1 2023 and September 12 last year. He faces trial at a later date. In a statement on Tuesday, police also confirmed separate charges of rape. The force said: 'Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been charged with two counts of rape. 'He is due to appear at Telford Magistrates' Court on 13 August 2025.' Furniture restorer Blades found fame on restoration programme The Repair Shop, which he started presenting in 2017. He also presented the BBC's Money For Nothing until 2020, and appeared on Celebrity Masterchef and Celebrity Bake Off as well as Comic Relief.
