An individual who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five children.
