An individual who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
