A person who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
