Jon Ruben, 76, was detained on Monday after eight youngsters and an adult were taken to hospital after falling unwell
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Summer camp ‘poisonings’: Aerial views of police cordon
A man has been charged with poisoning children at a Christian summer camp.
Jon Ruben, 76, was detained on Monday after eight youngsters and an adult were taken to hospital after falling unwell. The pensioner, from Nottingham, allegedly administered poison or a noxious substance to kids staying at Stathern Lodge, a residential activity centre used by church groups near Melton Mowbray, Leics. He will be charged with three counts of wilful ill treatment relating to three boys at a summer camp held at Stathern Lodge, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
East Midlands Ambulance Service set up a triage centre in nearby Plungar after the incident on Monday, before taking the stricken youngsters and one adult to hospital. They have all since been discharged.
Neighbours described seeing parents arriving in panic. June Grant, 83, a former bookings secretary at the hall, said: “There were so many sirens. You could hear the ambulances and police cars whizzing around the village. It was scary but such good news that the children are OK.”
A 28-year-old woman added: “We saw all the ambulances and police cars outside. All the kids were very guarded. They would not let anybody near it. Everybody was pretty stressed out.” Local Tory MP Ed Argar, said yesterday: “The reports are clearly shocking and deeply concerning. Our thoughts are with the young people affected.”
Leicestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable James Avery yesterday would not reveal the ages of the children or where they were from. Mr Avery added: “The investigation is being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s Major Incident Team.”
Senior investigating officer Det Insp Neil Holden added: “We understand the concern this incident will have caused parents, guardians and the surrounding community. We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned.”