An individual who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick 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 worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
