An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated Ruben went on to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
