🔗 Share this article Individual pleads guilty to sex offences involving children at youth camp Jon Ruben admitted 17 charges at the courthouse on recently A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children who were between nine and ten. The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month. The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday. Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy. Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November. 'Treat game' The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court. She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran. Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly". She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day. She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025. The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, with valid cause. "They chose" to have a look in the individual's items." Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries. She said the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day. "Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further. The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation. Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more. She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.