A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She said the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
