Person pleads guilty to sexual crimes against boys at youth camp

A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.

Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.

'Candy game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.

She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.

The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.

She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.

The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.

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

The legal counsel explained materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.

She said the man continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.

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

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.

Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.

She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.