A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
