A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
