Individual admits sexual crimes involving young males at summer program

A person who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.

Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.

The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

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

The man played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.

She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.

The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.

"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."

Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.

She said Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.

She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.