A man who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
