A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
