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A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.

Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

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

Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.

'Candy game'

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

She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.

The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".

She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.

She explained the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.

The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.

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

Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.

She explained the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.

"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.

Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.

She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.