A man who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the man continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
