Man pleads guilty to sex offences involving children at youth camp
An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
