🔗 Share this article

A man who laced candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.

However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.

'Candy game'

The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.

She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.

Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.

She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.

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

"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor said items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.

She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities once more.

She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five minors.