An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
