An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
