An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
