A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
