An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
