A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
