🔗 Share this article Man pleads guilty to sexual offenses involving boys at summer program The defendant admitted 17 offences at the judicial center on Friday A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten. Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer. The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday. Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child. The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th. 'Sweet game' Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body. She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran. The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible". She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day. She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in summer 2025. Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause. "They decided to examine in the man's possessions." Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries. She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day. "Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further. The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation. The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities again. She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.