Individual admits sex offences targeting boys at summer camp
A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She stated the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
