A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
