A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
