A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
