A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
