A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
