Camp leader who fed boys tranquilliser-laced sweets before abusing them loses his bid to cut his 23-year sentence

Jon Ruben, 77, a former vet, argued that the sentencing judge had overlooked his 'demonstrable remorse', but a three-judge Court of Appeal panel rejected that argument on Friday. His wife Susan, whom he admitted drugging to prevent her waking during the abuse, called him a 'sadistic, monstrous paedophile'. The offences emerged after nine people — eight children and one adult — fell ill at Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire, in July 2025.

Ruben ran a 'sweet game', encouraging boys to eat drugged sweets 'as quickly as they can'.

His stepson alerted police after discovering baby oil, Vaseline and syringes at the camp.

Judges restructured the sentence but increased one count, leaving his total at 31 years and 10 months.