A man who laced candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
