A man who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
