An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
