A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
