A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
