Man admits sexual offenses involving children at summer camp
An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
