An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained materials including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
