An individual who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
