An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
