A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
