Individual pleads guilty to sex offences targeting children at youth camp
A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
