🔗 Share this article Individual pleads guilty to sex offences against children at summer program Jon Ruben confessed to 17 charges at the judicial center on Friday A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10. 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 Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently. Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child. Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November. 'Candy game' The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings. She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he operated. The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly". She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day. She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in July 2025. The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably. "They decided to investigate in the man's possessions." Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries. She said Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning. "The police had not arrived by that time," she continued. The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation. Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the police once more. She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five minors.