A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
