A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
