An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the police once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
