A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
