A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
