An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the police again.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
