A person who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
