An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
