A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
