A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
