A man who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
