A person who spiked treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his concerns.
She explained the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
