A man who laced treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
