🔗 Share this article Man pleads guilty to sexual crimes involving boys at youth camp Jon Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 criminal counts at the judicial center on the end of the week A person who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten. The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the facility in July. The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently. Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy. The defendant was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November. 'Candy game' The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court. She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he operated. The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly". She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day. She said the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025. The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause. "They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items." The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries. She explained the man continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day. "Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued. The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the incident. Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again. She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.