A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
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 following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She stated the man continued to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
