A person who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She said the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
