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A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors 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 detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.

'Candy game'

Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.

The man conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".

She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.

She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.

The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.

"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.

She said the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.

The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.

Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police a second time.

She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.