A man who spiked treats with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
