A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
