🔗 Share this article Individual pleads guilty to sexual offenses involving young males at summer camp The accused confessed to 17 charges at Leicester Crown Court on Friday A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children both between nine and ten. Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer. The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently. Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child. The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November. 'Sweet game' Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings. She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran. Ruben played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can". She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day. She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025. The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause. "They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings." The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the police about his worries. She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day. "The police had not responded by that point," she stated further. The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events. The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities a second time. She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.