A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
