A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
