An individual who spiked treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
