A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
