A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
