A man who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
