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An individual who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.

The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.

'Treat game'

The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.

She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.

The man played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".

She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.

She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.

The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.

"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."

Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She explained the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.

"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.

The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.

The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.

She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.