A man who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five children.
