A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
