A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
