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A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and 10.

Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.

The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.

Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.

'Candy game'

The legal representative, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.

Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.

She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.

The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.

"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his worries.

She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.

"The police had not responded by that point," she added.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.

The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.

She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.