A man who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
