A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
