A man who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center 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 boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
