A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
