A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
