A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
