A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
