Person pleads guilty to sex offences against children at summer camp
A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man went on to play the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police once more.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
