An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the police again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
