Man charged after children fell ill at Stathern Lodge summer camp

Man charged after children fell ill at Stathern Lodge summer camp

A man, aged 76, has been formally charged with child cruelty offenses following an incident at a summer camp in Leicestershire. The investigation began after eight children and one adult from the camp at Stathern Lodge were hospitalized. Fortunately, all individuals have been discharged since the incident occurred. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently looking into how the police handled the situation.

The accused, Jon Ruben of Landmere Lane in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, is facing three charges of willful ill treatment of a child, specifically, three children. He has been taken into custody and is scheduled to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday for further proceedings. Leicestershire Police initially received a report on Sunday regarding the unwell children at the summer camp site.

The eight children affected were all boys between the ages of eight and 11, along with an accompanying adult, who were all taken to the hospital for precautionary measures. Janine McKinney, chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in the East Midlands, expressed the community’s shock and distress over the incident, particularly emphasizing the impact on the children and their families. It was stressed that legal procedures are now in progress, and Mr. Ruben is entitled to a fair trial.

The entire episode has been deeply troubling for the local community, especially for those directly involved, prompting concerns over child safety and well-being. The outcome of the ongoing investigation will shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the incident at the summer camp in Leicestershire. The public is urged to respect the legal process and allow for the appropriate authorities to carry out their duties in ensuring justice and accountability

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More