A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
