A person who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
