🔗 Share this article Individual pleads guilty to sexual offenses involving children at summer program Jon Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 charges at the courthouse on recently A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten. Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer. The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday. Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy. The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November. 'Candy game' Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings. She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he operated. The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly". She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day. She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in recently. The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause. "They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings." The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions. She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day. "The police had not gone out by that time," she added. The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events. The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the authorities again. She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.