A man who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
