The pensioner at the centre of the poison probe at a Christian summer camp is a 76 year old retired vet who was lauded for community work.

Youth worker Jon Ruben, 76, was last night charged with three counts of wilful ill treatment of a child. The charges relate to three different children at the summer camp. Ruben was in custody and will appear before magistrates tomorrow.

He had been arrested on suspicion of administering poison. He was held in a pub car park on Monday after eight youngsters and an adult were taken to hospital after falling unwell. The pensioner, from Nottingham, is a retired vet who later became an early years primary school teacher and church youth worker.

Jon Ruben has been charged with three offences of wilful ill treatment of a child relating to three boys

Police began an investigation after kids fell ill at Stathern Lodge, a residential activity centre used by church groups near Melton Mowbray, Leics. He is listed as a trustee of Stathern Children’s Holiday Fund, a charity linked to the site, offering subsidised holidays for underprivileged young people.

According an online profile, Mr Ruben ran a lab in Herefordshire specialising in small animal medicine, completed a PhD on viruses in chickens and later owned a veterinary practice with four branches in Nottingham. He re-qualified as an early years primary teacher in 1995 and now works as a children and youth leader at a church in the city.

He is understood to have been supervising a group of youngsters from the church on a trip to the holiday camp site in Stathern when the poisonings took place. His biography added: “I was heavily into sport – mountaineering, hockey and squash, but, following my knee replacement, have settled for cycling, skiing and running children’s clubs.”

Youngsters fell ill at Stathern Lodge on Sunday (

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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.

In 2015 Ruben was nominated for a community award for his youth work.

The woman who nominated him for a Supporting Young People gong was quoted in a local newspaper: “I used to volunteer with Jon and he works so hard for the benefit of so many young people. He wants young people to have a great start in life and he is such a lovely man too. He makes a genuine difference.

“Children find him funny and have a fun time with him, but they respect him too. He works tirelessly.”

A Nottinghamshire Police officer is stationed outside Mr Ruben's address

Ruben, who was pictured in a smart suit, told the paper: “I am shocked and pleased at the same time - I genuinely did not see this coming. We just like to give children good things to do.”

Earlier neighbours described seeing parents arriving in panic following the camp drama. 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.”

Jon Ruben was nominated in for a Rushcliffe Community Award in 2015

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.”