Person confesses to sexual crimes targeting children at youth camp
An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.