A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were 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 elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
