🔗 Share this article Man confesses to sexual crimes against young males at summer program Jon Ruben confessed to 17 charges at Leicester Crown Court on recently A man who laced candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten. The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month. The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week. Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy. The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November. 'Candy game' The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court. She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated. The man played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "rapidly". She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day. She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025. The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably. "They decided to have a look in the individual's items." Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries. She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day. "The police had not gone out by that time," she continued. The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation. Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again. She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.