A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his concerns.
She explained the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
