A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
