An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
