A man who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
