🔗 Share this article Individual admits sex offences targeting boys at summer program Jon Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 offences at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week An individual who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old. The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer. The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently. Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child. Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November. 'Candy game' Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body. She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran. The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can". She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning. She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025. Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably. "They decided to investigate in the individual's items." The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions. She stated the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day. "The police had not arrived by that time," she continued. The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident. Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police a second time. She stated the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five minors.