A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
