🔗 Share this article

A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.

Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.

However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.

The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.

'Sweet game'

The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.

She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.

Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.

She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.

The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.

"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She said the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.

"The police had not responded by that time," she continued.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.

The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.

She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.