Man admits sex offences against boys at summer camp

Jon Ruben admitted 17 offences at Leicester Crown Court on Friday

A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys under 13.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a boy under 13.

Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.

She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp that he ran.

Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior KC said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.

She said Ruben had been able to explain this away as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC added: "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."

Police at the scene of Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire

Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.

She said Ruben went on to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.

"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), previously told the BBC it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

Mrs Prior KC said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.

She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.

Mrs Prior KC said police did then attend, and Ruben was arrested at a nearby pub, where he was having a meal with some of the children.

She said eight of the children were taken to hospital, with five of them being "very ill".

Devices belonging to Ruben were later analysed and were found to contain more than 50 category A indecent videos of children, which are the most serious kind.

Category B and C videos were also found.

'Horrific and complex'

The 17 charges admitted by Ruben were:

• One count of sexual assault of a child under 13

• One count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration

• Eight counts of cruelty to a person under 16 years, in relation to eight separate victims

• One count of acquiring or possession of dutiable goods, namely temazepam, by fraudulent intent

• Three counts of possession of a class C drug, namely flubromazolam, diazepam and temazepam

• Three counts of making indecent photographs of children

Temporary Det Ch Insp 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."