An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
