A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member called the police once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
