A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
