Individual admits sex offences against young males at summer camp
A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
