A man who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
