A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
