Individual confesses to sexual crimes against children at summer program
A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
