An individual who spiked treats with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty 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 elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities again.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
