A person who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
