An individual who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
