An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
