An individual who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
