An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", 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 children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
