An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the police a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
