Summer camp sex offender admits drugging wife

A man who drugged children with sweets at a summer camp before sexually assaulting them has admitted drugging his wife so she would not wake while the abuse took place.

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

The same court was told Ruben had admitted the offence of unlawfully and maliciously administering a noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy, after giving a voluntary interview.

Addressing the defendant, the judge said "you appear upset, unusually so", adding that Friday - when Ruben is due to be sentenced - will be "much more emotional".

The court heard the offence took place against his wife Susan between 26 and 29 July.

In November, prosecutors had set out how Ruben, who had run a holiday camp for children for at least 27 years, had played a game in which he would go into boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

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

Before Ruben was sent to HMP Leicester, where he will remain until he is sentenced, Spencer said: "I understand why you were upset earlier. I will sentence you on Friday.

"It will be a very tough day in your life and it will be a very long day."