An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
