A person who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
