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A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.

The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.

However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.

'Candy game'

The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.

She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.

Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.

The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.

"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.

She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.

"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.

The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.

She said the man then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.