An individual who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
