🔗 Share this article

An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.

Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.

However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.

Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.

She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.

Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.

The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.

"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.

She said Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.

The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.

The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities once more.

She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.