A person who laced candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the police again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
