A man who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.
