A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
