A person who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
