A person who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
