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An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.

Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.

The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.

Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.

'Candy game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.

She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.

Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".

She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.

She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.

"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.

She said the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.

"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.

Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police a second time.

She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.