A person who laced candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben 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 "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the police again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
