A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
