An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
