A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
