A person who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
