An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
