Police officers investigated over camp abuse response
Asha Patel - East Midlands
Mon, February 9, 2026 at 12:58 PM UTC
5 min read
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Two police officers and five staff members are under gross misconduct investigation over the response to safeguarding concerns at a summer camp where children were given sweets laced with tranquilliser, with some sexually abused.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said Nottinghamshire Police received concerns for the safety of children at Stathern Lodge just before 19:00 BST on 27 July 2025, which was passed on to Leicestershire Police.
The next day, 21 hours later, the IOPC said Leicestershire Police attended and arrested Jon Ruben, who was jailed for more than 23 years on Friday.
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The IOPC has notified officers and staff from both forces that they are under investigation.
Two Leicestershire Police officers and three staff members are under gross misconduct investigation, the IOPC said, "for allegedly failing to review the information passed via Nottinghamshire Police, not progressing safeguarding concerns promptly and if this may have delayed officers going to Stathern Lodge".
Meanwhile, two Nottinghamshire Police staff members have also been served with gross misconduct notices "over the grading of the initial call made to the force, how information from the call was risk assessed and managed, and if this caused any delay to the police response".
The IOPC investigation, which focused on the events between the initial call to police and officers attending, follows a referral from Leicestershire Police on 29 July.
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IOPC director Emily Barry said: "We know that this incident has caused shock and distress, particularly to the children and families directly affected.
"Our initial inquiries have expanded significantly and we are now looking at the way both Nottinghamshire Police and Leicestershire Police responded to the very serious concerns raised about the children who were staying at Stathern Lodge last summer."
Summer camp leader Ruben - a former vet, teacher and church administrator - used his "cloak of Christianity" to carry out his attacks on vulnerable children, Leicester Crown Court heard.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, had helped run the summer camp for "at least 27 years", the court was told.
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Over the course of the weekend of 26 to 28 July last year, he poisoned the boys at the camp in order to sexually abuse them, using liquid Xanax, which he purchased from the dark web thinking it was the sedative temazepam.
Outlining its case, the prosecution said Ruben's "skill of the poisoning" of sweets had been "honed over many years".
Ruben would play a "sweet game" with the boys, during which he would go into their rooms when they were getting ready for bed, before asking them to eat drug-laced sweets "as quickly as they can" - with a chocolate bar the next morning the prize for the winner.
Judge Timothy Spencer KC said it was with "supreme irony" that Ruben was also the safeguarding lead of camp.
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Some of the boys had fallen ill after playing the game and were seen the next morning "walking into walls and in the wrong direction", the court heard.
Ruben's stepson James was worried by what he saw and called the police on more than one occasion to report his concerns.
Ruben was arrested at a nearby pub while the group were eating lunch, and 38 children were taken to the local village hall for medical triage.
In November, Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 offences - including the sexual assault of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, and eight counts of child cruelty.
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Ruben also admitted an 18th offence, the drugging of his wife Susan to ensure she would not wake up while his abuse took place.
In court, Susan labelled her husband of 24 years a "sadistic, monstrous paedophile", adding she had begun divorce proceedings.
A number of upset and angry parents of the victims also gave emotional testimony, with some swearing at Ruben as he was sentenced.
Susan said the camp, which she had been involved with for 34 years, was meant to provide "moments of happiness" for children from low-income families, who would not usually have a chance to have a holiday in the countryside.
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"In one moment, he was gathering children around the campfire and then the next, he was perpetrating the most awful crimes against the children and myself," she said.
A mother of one of Ruben's victims swore at him multiple times as he was sitting in the dock.
"The name Jon makes me physically unwell - and I've never felt as much hatred as I do for you," she said.
"You have caused the most sleepless nights - but I bet you've slept well.
"You have made me feel like I'm grieving for somebody who is still alive. I can't see my son sleeping without seeing your face."
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Leicestershire Police said a wider investigation into Ruben remained "very much ongoing", adding it was working alongside Nottinghamshire Police to get in touch with schools and organisations he was known to be in contact with.
A public portal was opened by the police for people to contact, including potential witnesses or victims or Ruben.
Assistant Chief Constable James Avery, of Leicestershire Police, said its focus "continues to remain on the victims involved in this investigation and their families".
He added: "An independent IOPC investigation remains ongoing and we continue to co-operate with the IOPC as part of this."
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A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police added: "The investigation is being led by the IOPC and therefore we are unable to comment at this stage."
The IOPC said its inquiry followed a referral from Leicestershire Police on 29 July, and the watchdog's decision to investigate.
It added based on information given at the time from Nottinghamshire Police, the IOPC did not consider that a referral from that force was necessary.
However, following an internal review - which Nottinghamshire Police shared with the IOPC - it advised the force that a referral should be made.
The referral was made in November, and the investigation into Nottinghamshire Police began the following month.
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