An individual who laced treats with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
