Person confesses to sexual offenses targeting young males at summer camp
A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.