An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.
