A person who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said the man went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
