Individual admits sexual crimes involving children at summer camp
A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
