A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
