A man who laced candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
