A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
