A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
