A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She said the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
