An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
