🔗 Share this article

A person who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.

Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.

The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.

The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.

The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".

She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.

She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.

"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."

Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She said the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.

"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.

The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.

The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.

She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.