A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
