A person who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
