A 76-year-old man has admitted sexual offences against two boys under 13 after lacing sweets with a tranquilliser at a summer camp in Leicestershire, England.
Jon Ruben, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, was arrested following an incident in July in which eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge.
Ruben pleaded guilty to 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday but denied one sexual offence against a boy under 13.
Prosecutors have been given two weeks to decide whether to proceed with that charge, meaning Ruben could still face trial. He was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
‘Sweet game’
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben’s offending in court. She said his victims were under-privileged children attending the summer camp he had run for at least 27 years.
“There is a long history of children feeling sick at the camp over many years,” she said.
Ruben would play a “sweet game” with the boys, Mrs Prior KC explained, going into their rooms at bedtime and asking them to eat sweets “as quickly as they can.”
She added that he had carried out this practice for many years, and children had previously fallen ill the following morning. Ruben was able to dismiss these incidents as the children being “overwrought by enjoyment” until his stepson raised concerns in July 2025.
“This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason. They decided to have a look in the defendant’s belongings,” she said.
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, Vaseline, and syringes were found, prompting the stepson to notify the police. Ruben then played the “sweet game” with six boys on the night of Saturday 26 July, all of whom became ill the following morning.
“The police had not gone out by that stage,” she added.
When the children struggled to walk due to their illness, Ruben’s stepson called the police again.
Ruben then played the “sweet game” in a room with five children before officers attended and arrested him at a nearby pub, where he was having a meal with some of the children.
Analysis of Ruben’s devices revealed more than 50 category A indecent videos of children, the most serious type, along with category B and C videos.
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Neil Holden said, “This has been a horrific, complex and emotional investigation involving multiple young, innocent, vulnerable victims and a man who committed the vilest crimes. Our focus today must of course remain on the young victims and with the support of partners and dedicated family liaison officers, we have and continue to support their welfare and to ensure their safeguarding going forward.”
