A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to play the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
