Individual admits sexual crimes against young males at summer camp
A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
