🔗 Share this article Man pleads guilty to sex offences targeting young males at youth camp Jon Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 criminal counts at the judicial center on the end of the week An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old. The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer. The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday. Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child. Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November. 'Sweet game' The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body. She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he operated. Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible". She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day. She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025. Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason. "They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings." The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries. She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day. "The police had not responded by that point," she added. The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events. The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more. She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.