Jonathon Ruben, 76, will be charged with three counts of wilful ill treatment relating to three boys at a summer camp held at Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Leicestershire Police arrested Mr Ruben on Monday (July 28).
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. He will appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday August 1. 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.”
He was arrested on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy, and was still being questioned on Friday. Mr Ruben is a qualified veterinary surgeon and former small animal practice owner who trained at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh.
He completed a PhD in virology in 1976 and has had a long career spanning large animal practice, small animal medicine and laboratory work.
Mr Ruben has also been a youth worker at his local church and previously stood as a Conservative local election candidate. He has been an outspoken figure in veterinary policy, particularly against the UK’s strict interpretation of the veterinary prescribing “cascade”, which limits the use of human generic medicines in animals.
The incident occurred at Stathern Lodge, a youth centre hired for a summer camp and owned by the Braithwaite Gospel Trust, about a mile from the village.
Police confirmed the first report came in on Sunday, July 27, but officers and East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) were not deployed until Monday, when multiple children reported feeling unwell.
A triage centre was established at Plungar Village Hall, from where the eight youngsters were taken to hospital as a precaution. All have since been discharged.
Mr Ruben remains in custody as enquiries continue. Due to the delay in its initial police response, Leicestershire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).