A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
