A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
