A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
