A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
