A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
