A person who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
