A man who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
