An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
