An individual who laced treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
