A man who spiked treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
