man, 76, remanded in custody after summer camp 'sweets laced with sedatives'

The pensioner is suspected of poisoning children at a summer camp (Picture: SWNS)

A man has appeared in court after being accused of poisoning children at a summer camp.

Alarm was raised when youngsters started feeling ill at a camp near Stathern Lodge,Leicestershire,on Sunday.

Eight boys,aged between eight and 11,and one adult were taken to hospital as a precaution before being discharged.

Pensioner Jon Ruben,76,is suspected of poisoning children at the camp.

Aerial view of Stathern Lodge in Canal Lane near Melton Mowbray,after police were called in to investigate (Picture: Tom Maddick / SWNS)

Sign up for all of the latest stories

Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.He was charged with three counts of wilfully assaulting,ill-treating,neglecting,abandoning or exposing children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health,relating to three boys at the summer camp between July 25 and July 29.The charges relate to sweets which were allegedly laced with sedatives.Now he has been remanded in custody after he appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court,charged with child cruelty today.Several kids and one adult were taken to hospital as a precaution (Picture: Tom Maddick / SWNS)Ruben appeared in the dock in a grey sweatshirt and spoke only to confirm his name,date of birth and address during the short hearing.He did not give any indication of a plea today,and he is due to appear again at the same court on August 29.Neighbours said they saw panicked parents gather at a village hall in nearby Plungar,which became the triage zone for children on Monday.June Grant,83,former bookings secretary at the hall,said: ‘There were so many sirens. You could hear the ambulances and police cars whizzing round the village.‘It was pretty scary but such good news that the children are OK.’Another resident,who lives near the hall,said: ‘It was pretty chaotic with emergency workers running around everywhere.‘I saw a few children in tears as they walked into the hall. It’s like every parent’s worst nightmare.’Got a story?