A man who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
