A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police again.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
