A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
