A man who spiked candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
