An individual who laced treats with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the authorities again.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
