A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
