A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
