A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
