A man who laced treats with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
