A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
