An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the police about his worries.
She explained the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
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 condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
