A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response 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 explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
