An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She stated the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
