A man who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She stated the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
