🔗 Share this article Man pleads guilty to sexual offenses targeting young males at summer program Jon Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 offences at the courthouse on recently A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten. The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer. The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week. Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy. The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November. 'Candy game' The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court. She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he managed. The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can". She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day. She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025. The legal representative continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause. "They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings." The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns. She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day. "Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued. The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation. The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time. She explained Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.