A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
