Man pleads guilty to sexual crimes targeting boys at summer program
A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
