A man who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police again.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
