A person who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
