🔗 Share this article Man pleads guilty to sex offences involving children at summer program The defendant pleaded guilty to 17 criminal counts at Leicester Crown Court on Friday A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old. Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer. The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently. However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy. Ruben was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th. 'Sweet game' The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court. She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated. The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "rapidly". She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning. She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025. The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause. "They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions." The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions. She stated Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning. "Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added. The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the events. Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time. She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.