🔗 Share this article Man admits sex offences against young males at summer program Jon Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 charges at the courthouse on recently A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old. The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in July. The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently. Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy. Ruben was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November. 'Sweet game' Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court. She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran. Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible". She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day. She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025. Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason. "They decided to examine in the individual's items." The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions. She said the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning. "Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added. The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation. The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time. She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.