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A person who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.

Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in July.

The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.

However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Candy game'

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

She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.

The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".

She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.

She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.

The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.

"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."

The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.

She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.

"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.

The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.

The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.

She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.