A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
