An individual who spiked treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
