An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
