A man who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters 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 courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
