A man who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, 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 played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
