A man who laced candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
