A man who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
