An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.
