An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years 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 the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to play the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
