An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
