A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities again.
She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
