Man pleads guilty to sexual offenses targeting boys at summer program
A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the police about his worries.
She said the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the police again.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
