A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities once more.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
