A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
