An individual who laced candy with sedative and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
