Individual confesses to sexual crimes against boys at summer camp
A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
