An individual who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
